Father took life in fear of euro changeover in Lithuania

A man who feared the euro currency changeover in his native country would impact on his finances took his own life, an inquest heard.

Petras Martinkenas, aged 39, from Lithuania but living at Shanliss Rd in Santry, Dublin, was found dead on January 7 this year.

A father of two, he had become increasingly worried about loans and bills and was “getting upset” about how the introduction of the euro in his home country would affect his finances.

In a statement read out at Dublin Coroner’s Court, his wife Dena Martinkenas said that he “worried about money all the time”.

Mr Martinkenas moved to Ireland in 2004 and his wife followed in 2005. She moved home to Lithuania in 2012 with the couple’s two children to mind her elderly mother.

“Our plan was for Petras to move back in a year’s time,” Ms Martinkenas said in her statement. “We planned to fix up our house [in Lithuania] and Petras stayed because he could earn more money in Ireland [to pay for the renovation].”

A mechanic at J&S McGrath haulage in Finglas, Mr Martinkenas “became very sensitive about money”, according to his wife.

“Everything was nearly done, Petras was coming home soon,” she said.

However, from summer 2014, Mr Martinkenas’ behaviour began to change.

“He was worried about money, he was lonely in Ireland without me and the family. I told him it would all be OK,” Ms Martinkenas said in the statement.

“He was worried about money to furnish the house and he was getting upset because the currency in Lithuania was changing to euro and things were getting more expensive.”

He spent Christmas with his family in Lithuania and returned to Ireland on January 6. He took his own life the following day. He was described at the inquest as a “very nice fella” by Niamh McGrath, who works in the office at J&S McGrath.

“Anything you would need he would sort it out,” Ms McGrath said.

He was found dead by his friend and housemate Sergios Petroskina, from Latvia, who found a note written in Lithuanian on a desk in his room.

Coroner Brian Farrell returned a verdict of suicide.