Three dead men could be victims of freeze

THREE men, two in Co Limerick and another in Co Wexford, have become the first tragic victims of the arctic conditions.

A man who was found dead in his garden may have been lying covered in snow for nearly two weeks.

The body of Harry Hunter, aged 65, of Knockgreany, Coolgreany, Co Wexford, may have been in his garden for up to 11 days. He is survived by his only son, who lives in Dublin.

Mr Hunter hadn’t been seen for some days and, initially, neighbours thought he might have gone away for a break. When they got no answer when they tried to get in touch with him, they contacted Gorey garda station. It is not yet known how Mr Hunter died but it is believed he may have suffered a heart attack or stroke or had a fall during the bitterly cold weather.

Fine Gael TD Michael D’Arcy said: “What happened was very sad. It was a scenario which we had hoped wouldn’t have happened but for it to happen in Coolgreany on our own doorstep is tragic.

“It wasn’t just older people who were in danger but anyone who was living on their own in that the danger was that anyone could have fallen or taken a knock and found themselves in a dangerous situation.”

Meanwhile, an elderly Co Limerick man who lived on his own may have been the first victim of the winter freeze-up. Francis Dowling, aged 73, who lived on his own at Glendorough, Templeglantine, was found dead shortly after Christmas, it emerged last night.

It is believed the single farmer was found in an out- house by neighbours who became concerned for his welfare during bad weather at the start of the new year. A source said Mr Dowling may have been dead for a number of hours before neighbours discovered his body when they called to his residence.

Mr Dowling, who was buried in recent days, farmed over 100 acres between Newcastle West and Abbeyfeale. A neighbour who asked not to be named said: “He was a very private. He loved the countryside and never left it.”

A Garda source said neighbours were very good to Mr Dowling and kept in contact with him during the bad weather. It is believed his body was discovered within hours of his collapse. A postmortem revealed there were no suspicious circumstances surrounding his death.

Meanwhile, gardaí in Newcastle West confirmed Edward Delee of Rathcahill, Newcastle West, aged 82, was found dead on his farm about eight hours after he was last seen in early January.