Inquest finds farmers died in murder-suicide

An inquest has found that a farmer fatally wounded by multiple gunshots was unlawfully killed, while his brother-in-law, found later in a nearby farm shed, died by suicide.

Used shotgun cartridges found in the pockets of Michael Jordan, 52, in a shed on his farm in Co Carlow were consistent with injuries sustained by George Rothwell, 68, whose body was found minutes after he made an emergency call about a fire on his land.

The unlawful killing and suicide happened in the early hours of Feb 22, 2012, on the two men’s neighbouring farms outside Bagenalstown.

Mr Rothwell’s sister, Hilda, was married to Michael Jordan, and in her evidence read out to the inquest she said her husband was a “worrier” and had suffered a “little bit” from depression.

On the night of the double tragedy, she said, Michael gave her “an intense kiss” before she went to bed.

“He looked into my eyes with an intensity I hadn’t seen before,” said Mrs Jordan.

When she got up the following morning, Michael wasn’t in the house. She later found out her brother George had been found dead in his home at Ballycormac House, which was nearby.

Shortly afterwards, two neighbours told her they had found Michael’s body in a shed.

Michael was a “worrier” and would worry about bills, even though they hadn’t any such problems. Her brother George, who was single and a “laid-back” man according to his sister, came to their house every Sunday for dinner and they had all gone to the races at Gowran Park the previous week.

Fire officer Michael Hogan said that, after an emergency call was placed at 3.18am on Feb 22, 2012, the fire service found three buildings alight on George Rothwell’s property.

He said he found George Rothwell’s body lying on the ground, in the kitchen of his farmhouse, with a double-barrel shotgun on the floor near his legs. There was a bullet hole in the kitchen window and pellet-marks on the wall.

A neighbour, Francis Kearney, gave evidence of finding Michael Jordan’s body in a shed, after he went up to help after 9am.

Gardaí confirmed that the initial call made to report the fire on Mr Rothwell’s property was made by Mr Rothwell himself.

Deputy state pathologist Dr Michael Curtis said George Rothwell sustained four shotgun wounds.

One was to the neck and was discharged from about three feet way. Another was discharged from about 8-10 feet away and hit the right flank and buttock; another was to the back of the shoulder and face and was a “distant discharge”, as was another which hit the left shoulder and extended to the head and face.

Michael Jordan died as a result of hanging, Dr Curtis said.

Detective Garda Ronan Lawlor said nine discharged shotgun cartridges were found in Michael Jordan’s pockets, along with matches.

The cartridges were “consistent” with the injuries sustained by George Rothwell, he said.