A vulnerable recluse who shunned help to live life he wanted

Vulnerable recluse Christopher ‘Gussie’ Hornibrook, 73, was loved and cared for but shunned help to live the life he wanted, his devastated family said.

Cork City Coroner’s Court was told that Gussie lived alone in an unkempt, mid-terrace, two-storey home on Templeacre Avenue described as unfit for human habitation.

He was well-known and liked in the community — people knew his daily routine and watched out for him. He was never seen without his peak cap, he fed bread to the birds, and liked going to a local chipper.