Coroner refuses to record suicide verdict after man found hanged

A VERDICT of suicide required a very onerous standard of proof, a coroner said yesterday.

John McNamara said he would not record a verdict of suicide into the death of a man found hanging in an apartment.

The acting Limerick city coroner said he was not satisfied the deceased intended to cause his own death. An open verdict was subsequently recorded.

Joseph O’Donnell, aged 21, was found hanging at an apartment at 59, Henry Street, where he lived on December 7 last. Pathologist Dr Elizabeth Mulcahy said Mr O’Donnell died from asphyxia due to a ligature around his neck.

Toxicology tests found elevated amounts of alcohol in blood and urine samples. Dr Mulcahy said the levels of alcohol, while not enough to cause death, were sufficient to impair Mr O’Donnell’s judgment.

Lillian Thompson, who was with Mr O’Donnell in the apartment, said he was in great form as they were watching Liverpool win 3-0. They had a few drinks and he went on to his computer slagging friends about the win and playing poker games. She went to bed.

She was awakened around 5am by music from the television and the lights were still on downstairs.

On going to the sitting room, she found Mr O’Donnell hanging. Efforts to revive him failed.

The coroner said in order to bring in a suicide verdict he had to be satisfied beyond reasonable doubt that Mr O’Donnell took his own life and intended to do so.

Mr McNamara said he would also have to rule out any other explanation.

She recalled he was in good form the previous night and he had left no note which would give his intention.

He said Mr O’Donnell’s death did not appear to have been a planned event.

The coroner said Mr O’Donnell did have alcohol in his system which could have impaired his judgment.

He added: “Suicide requires a very onerous standard of proof and I am not satisfied to bring in a verdict by suicide and in the circumstances, I feel the appropriate verdict is an open verdict.”