Open verdicts in deaths of homeless man and woman

A jury has returned open verdicts into the deaths of a homeless man and woman whose bodies were recovered metres from each other in the River Lee in Cork City Centre in December 2014.

Paddy O’Driscoll aged 53, of Skibbereen, West Cork, and Michelle O’Riordan, aged 27, of Mayfield, Cork, drowned on December 4, 2014, although their bodies were not recovered for 10 days. Cork Coroners Court heard the pair were captured on CCTV entering the Port of Cork premises on Custom House Quay shortly before 6pm on that date.

Sgt David Callaghan said it was his belief the pair died soon after entering the unprotected quay area, as Mr O’Driscoll’s watch was stopped at 6.10pm.