Family seek hypothermia death inquiry

A PUBLIC inquiry has been called for in the case of a young mother-of-two who died of hypothermia.

There was a round of applause at Dublin City Coroner’s Court as Dr Ciaran Craven, counsel for Rachel Peavoy’s family, said an inquiry is needed as “this was a young woman, who has left two orphaned children, who froze to death in Dublin”.

Rachel Peavoy, 30, of Shangan Road, Ballymun, Dublin 9, was found dead in her flat on January 11. Pathologist Anthony Dorman, a consultant histopathologist at Beaumont Hospital, said cause of death was hypothermia.

There were emotional scenes at the inquest as a verdict of death by misadventure was read out.

Coroner Dr Brian Farrell said he was giving a verdict of misadventure as a legal verdict of accidental death “would be too simplistic”.

Dr Farrell said: “I’m accepting the cause of death as hypothermia even though new evidence would indicate the apartment wasn’t freezing.”

Ms Peavoy’s uncle Michael Duffy said: “It’s impossible to die of hypothermia if the heating is working — it’s not logic.”

At the inquest, Inspector Andrew Waters of Ballymun Garda station said he was very disappointed that comments he made about windows in Ms Peavoy’s flat were misrepresented in court. Dr Farrell adjourned an earlier inquest after Donal Barron, Ballmun, area housing manager, said he was told by Inspector Waters that the windows were open in the flat at the time of Ms Peavoy’s death.

Referring to the issue yesterday, Insp Waters said: “It was a very informal conversation based on hearsay... I said the windows may or may not have been open. I also said that the investigating officer Garda Catriona Byrne had no record of the windows being opened or closed in her notebook.

“I am very disappointed selected parts of an informal conversation I had were misrepresented in court. I was asked what I knew about the death of Rachel Peavoy. I explained I knew nothing of the specifics,” he added.

Ms Peavoy’s friend Jacqueline Johnson told the inquest she opened the windows. Ms Johnson and Ms Peavoy’s sister Leontia had let themselves into Ms Peavoy’s flat after they after they couldn’t make contact with her.