Man was watching match as remains found in flat
At Clare Coroner’s Court yesterday, Detective Garda Kieran Gallagher recalled being “overwhelmed” by the smell at the flat that contained the remains of Frankie Hassett, 25, on Jul 3, 2011. He had been missing since Jun 14.
Det Garda Gallagher said they found Patrick Ballard watching a match on TV as they went to the shower area to find the remains of Mr Hassett under a plastic bin bag.
The occupant of the flat, Bernard Flaherty, 37, of 3 Lifford Lodge, Ennis, Co Clare, had twice told gardaí he did know the whereabouts of Mr Hassett. In a deposition, Mr Flaherty said he took prescribed drugs and some cannabis with Frank Hassett on Jun 14, 2011, at the flat. When he saw that Mr Hassett’s body the next morning, he was “blue and cold”.
Coroner Isobel O’Dea said that the appropriate verdict was one of misadventure as there was evidence that Mr Hassett had taken a concoction of drugs before dying.
Speaking afterwards, Ian Hassett said that the family could not accept Mr Flaherty’s apology.
