Dead woman’s pension withdrawn by brother
An investigation has been launched by the Department of Social Welfare into how the brother of Agnes Lyons was able to cash the weekly 144 allowance without any written authorisation from her.
The results of a post mortem should reveal how long 70-year-old Ms Lyons was dead before her body was finally discovered in the bedroom of the house in Aughamore, Co Mayo, last Monday. She lived in the three bedroom bungalow with her sister Mary Ellen, 66, and 74-year-old brother Michael, better known as Sonny.
While it is certain she was dead for many months, informed sources said she died more than a year ago and possibly up to three. Pension payments totalling almost €8,000 were drawn down in the dead woman’s name in the last 12 months.
Her welfare cheque was picked up by Sonny on his weekly visit to the post office at nearby Ballyhaunis, where he would also pick up groceries. His two sisters were reclusive and had not been seen outside the house for three years.
Both Mary Ellen, who was treated in hospital this week for an injured leg and signs of malnutrition, and Sonny told gardaí they thought Agnes was still alive, even as the body decomposed to the point where all that remained was a skeleton.
The discovery was made when a doctor was called after Mary Ellen fell in the bathroom of the house. When the doctor arrived he asked after Agnes. Mary Ellen is reported to have told him her sister was great, that she was in the bedroom but that he (the doctor) would have to talk loudly as “she is very deaf.”
The doctor then discovered the body in the bed. Gardaí do not believe there was anything suspicious about the actual death but are waiting for the results of the post mortem.
