Staff saddened by nursing home death

MANAGEMENT at the nursing home where an elderly resident was killed early on Monday morning have expressed their sadness following the woman’s death.

Vera Vollrath, 83, died in her bedroom at Killure Bridge Nursing Home, outside Waterford city, at about 1.30am on Monday.

It is understood the alarm was raised by a daughter of the deceased woman after staff at the nursing home had initially thought Mrs Vollrath’s death was due to natural causes.

A report relating to her death was received by gardaí in Tramore at about 5.30am on Monday morning and a full-scale investigation was initiated by Detective Superintendent Dominic Hayes.

Superintendent Chris Delaney of Waterford Garda station said yesterday that gardaí are speaking to residents and staff at the nursing home as well as friends and acquaintances of Mrs Vollrath, who knew her when she lived in Tramore. “We are examining all angles,” he said.

The Killure Bridge Partnership, owners of the nursing home which is located about 3km from Waterford city and 8km from Tramore, issued a statement yesterday in which they said that management, staff and residents were “deeply saddened by the passing of our friend Vera Vollrath”.

Describing Mrs Vollrath as a much-loved resident, friend and companion, who was part of the “community” at Killure Bridge since May of 2010, they said they were fully co-operating with the state authorities while investigations continue into the death.

“We are also providing our residents and staff with comfort and support during this very difficult and upsetting time and ask that the media do not add further to their distress and respect the privacy of our residents and staff,” they said.

Mrs Vollrath was a native of Tramore and settled in the Tramore Heights estate some years ago. She was born Veronica Power and her family ran a pub in Tramore in the past. Her only brother, Fr Tom Power, was a priest in London.

Her late husband, Paul Vollrath, was from Germany and a prominent officer in the merchant marines. The couple met when Vera was aged 18 and Mr Vollrath landed in Waterford shortly after the Second World War.

The couple had two sons — Gerard and Paul — and one daughter, Anna, none of whom now live in Tramore.

Tramore resident and long-standing friend of the deceased, Siobhán Hewison, described the death as “so sad” and said Mrs Vollrath’s husband’s death almost a decade ago had hit her hard.

“She went downhill, living on her own. She didn’t drive and loved listening to Lyric FM every day.”

She described her as “lovely and very attractive” and said she and her late husband were devoted to each other.

Mrs Vollrath’s funeral Mass is due to take place tomorrow morning at the Church of the Holy Cross in Tramore.