Family passed body three years before find

The family of a woman whose body went undiscovered for three-and-a-half years almost stumbled across her during the early days of a search following her disappearance, an inquest heard yesterday.

The body of Bernie Gavan, aged 59, from Dunsink Drive in Finglas, was found in Mar 2011, in undergrowth on a steep incline beside an electricity pylon in the Tolka Valley Park. She was discovered by children playing football nearby.

No cause of death could be determined, but it is believed Ms Gavan had a heart attack falling into a hole.

She was reported missing in the early hours of Aug 20, 2007, from Daneswood House in Ballymun, where she had been a resident and receiving treatment for bipolar disorder.

Residents of Daneswood are free to come and go as they please but must get permission for overnight stays with family. Staff became worried when Ms Gavan failed to return on Aug 19, 2007. They raised the alarm shortly after midnight and both family and gardaí carried out searches over the following days.

Ms Gavan’s brother Frank said the family had searched the Tolka Valley Park having been told of several sightings of her on the day she was reported missing.

Another family member nearly stumbled into the same hole. “We were right beside her,” said Mr Gavan.

Professor Marie Cassidy, the state pathologist, attended the scene but said it was not possible to carry out an autopsy because the body was in a skeletal state. Aside from some animal interference, there was no bone damage.

However, she noted the position of the body when it was found, saying it suggested Ms Gavan made no attempt to extricate herself from the situation. The deceased had a history of heart problems, she said, and may have had a cardiac arrest from the shock of falling down the slope.

Ms Gavan’s sister Ann O’Hanlon told the court it was a relief to the family to know she was not lying there for a long period trying to get out.

Coroner Brian Farrell adjourned the inquest when the family raised issues about when they were notified by Daneswood House and gardaí that Ms Gavan had gone missing.

The issues raised needed to be heard before a jury, he said, but it had not been possible to secure one for yesterday’s hearing.

The inquest was adjourned to June 15.