Man died after cliff fall, inquest hears

A man died from injuries sustained in a fall from treacherous coastal cliffs in West Cork, an inquest heard yesterday.

Cork City Coroner’s Court established that James Byrne, 72, from Ballinglanna, Clonakilty, walked out of his home moments after his home help left on the evening of Dec 28 last.

Despite being unsteady on his feet, he managed to walk about 1km to nearby cliffs.

He was found the next morning lying seriously injured on rocks at the base of the cliffs.

Gardaí said Mr Byrne fell about 10 feet from slippy grass above and that conditions were so dangerous, they had to call in a Coast Guard helicopter to airlift Mr Byrne from the rocks.

Despite medical efforts, he died in Cork University Hospital on Jan 5.

City coroner, Dr Myra Cullinane, recorded a verdict of accidental death.

Mr Byrne’s home help, Philomena Fleming, said she called to his house, where he lived alone, on Dec 28.

She said he didn’t seem his usual self, and was agitated and nervous.

She left, urging him to eat his supper, and returned the next morning, Dec 29, and said she knew immediately that something was wrong.

She said the supper hadn’t been touched, and nothing in the house had been disturbed.

That led her to believe that Mr Byrne had left the house the previous night moments after she had left.

She raised the alarm and neighbours began searching for Mr Byrne.

Bernard O’Donovan found the pensioner just before 2pm lying on rocks at the base of cliffs close to a holiday home development.

He told the court it was a walk Mr Byrne would have taken some years ago, but less so in recent years when he became less mobile.

Garda Clinton Rock said when he arrived on the scene, Mr Byrne was conscious but mumbling.

Neighbours had covered him with blankets and had placed hot water bottles on him.

The rocks and grass above were very slippy and he decided it was too dangerous for the Civil Defence team to remove him from the scene.

The Coast Guard helicopter from Waterford airlifted Mr Byrne from the scene at 3.35pm. He passed away on Jan 5.

Assistant state pathologist, Dr Margot Bolster, said Mr Byrne had suffered significant trauma to his head and chest, in keeping with a fall from a height.

Garda Rock said the cliffs are fenced off, and there are signs on the fence warning people of the dangers.

Dr Cullinane said unfortunately, it appeared as if Mr Byrne had become confused, had wandered from his home, and had tragically fallen from the cliffs, suffering injuries which ultimately proved to be fatal.