Mystery skull could be doctor’s

MYSTERY surrounding a macabre discovery deepened yesterday as it emerged that a skull hidden in a so-called haunted house could belong to a disappeared doctor.

Gardaí said it was one of the theories they are following since the grim discovery was made at a house in Co Cork a few days before Christmas.

It may be early next week before forensic archaeologists at UCC are able to provide gardaí with an exact age on the skull, but a preliminary assessment carried out by assistant state pathologist Dr Margaret Bolster has put it somewhere about the 100-year-old mark.

However, following information gathered from local historians, gardaí are looking at the possibility that it may have belonged to a doctor who lived in the Ballynoe area of Co Cork in the early 1800s.

“It was said that he left Ballynoe to travel the world, but he was never seen or heard of again,” said a senior Garda source yesterday.

It also emerged that a clay pipe and a gold sovereign were found along with the skull.

Contrary to an article in another national newspaper, gardaí haven’t yet ruled out foul play.

The source said that while there didn’t appear to be any unusual marks on the skull, it was impossible at this stage to say if the person had died a violent death as they didn’t have the rest of the remains.

Searches of the house and the surrounding area did not reveal the rest of the skeleton.

The skull was discovered by a man who purchased the Queen Ann-era house just two months ago. He was carrying out renovation works when the skull fell out of a hole in a ceiling.

Locals have often claimed that the house is haunted and the discovery has further fuelled this belief. The house was built in the late 1700s by the sixth Duke of Devonshire and was once part of the Lismore Castle estate.

Gardaí said when the UCC team is finished its work the skull will be sent to Garda headquarters in Dublin where forensic experts will extract DNA, which it is hoped may help establish the person’s identity.

In the meantime gardaí are preparing to interview relatives of people who once owned the house in the hope of advancing their investigation.