Dogs mutilated remains of dead farmer

THE body of an elderly Kerry farmer, who lived alone, was badly mutilated by dogs in his home an inquest conducted by Coroner Terence Casey was told in Killarney yesterday.

James (Jimmy) O’Shea, 69, of Brackross, Tahilla, Sneem, was dead for a number of days before being found by a neighbour that regularly brought food and messages to him.

A jury returned an open verdict after being told by assistant State Pathologist Dr Margaret Bolster that she could not give a cause of death as there was so little of the body left following predatory damage by dogs.

She said the head was missing, there was damage to the lungs and the ribs and liver were gone.

David Hussey, who regularly took messages to the deceased, said he found the body lying on the floor close to the fire, on April 7 last. The body had been burned by the fire.

The deceased had been last seen on April 2 by another neighbour, David Cahillane, who said Mr O’Shea was using two walking sticks to get around, but was in good spirits.

Sergeant Eugene O’Sullivan told Inspector Barry O’Rourke he had previously spoken to Mr O’Shea in relation to the dogs and taking care of himself.

On receiving a report of the body being found in the house, Sgt O’Sullivan said he was confronted by four dogs when he arrived there and a further two dogs were locked into an upstairs room.

It was obvious, he said, that dogs were living in the house, but there was no evidence of food in the house for the dogs, or the deceased.

Sgt O’Sullivan said he found the body lying forward towards the open fire and it appeared the deceased had been sleeping on a chair in front of the fire.

His clothes had been burned by the fire and there were indications he had been dead for a number of days.