Man was dead for 28 days at his Wexford home, inquest hears

The death of a man who was found dead in his home after 28 days has been recalled at an inquest.

Philip Knight, 52, died alone in his Charlton Hill, New Ross, Co Wexford, residence in April from a very severe heart disease, but wasn’t discovered until 28 days later.

Mr Knight, of 70, Charlton Hill, New Ross, was found on the evening of May 28 after neighbours raised an alarm about his whereabouts amid concerns over a strong smell from his house.

No family members of the deceased were in attendance at the inquest at the Talbot Hotel.

County coroner Dr Sean Nixon said Mr Knight’s brother and most of his family reside in England.

Dr Nixon said: “His death was from natural causes, but because of the circumstances he was found in we felt it necessary to have an inquest.”

Mr Knight’s neighbour Martina Dunphy of 72, Charlton Hill, gave a statement to gardaí at the time, which was read at the hearing by Inspector Pat McDonald.

In it she described how it had been three to four weeks since she saw Mr Knight. She said he was a man who didn’t go out much and lived alone in the rented house in Charlton Hill for approximately a year.

Dr Nixon recorded the verdict as death by natural causes arising from a very severe heart disease.

Jury foreman Fergie Kehoe extended his sincere sympathies to the Knight family, as did Insp McDonald and Dr Nixon.