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.