Woman died from stab to head, inquest told
Marian Horgan, aged 61, was found dead in her Montenotte home on the morning of November 23, 2015.
Her son Paul Horgan, aged 25, has been charged with her murder.
Yesterday, Cork City Coroner’s Court heard that assistant state pathologist Dr Margot Bolster conducted an autopsy on Ms Horgan at Cork City Morgue on the day her body was found.
Dr Bolster told the inquest that the cause of death was haemorrhage and shock due to a stab wound to the head.
City coroner, Dr Myra Cullinane, adjourned the matter due to ongoing criminal proceedings.
No relatives of the deceased attended the inquest, however a Garda representative said a family liaison officer has been appointed to work with the Horgan family.
Meanwhile the inquest into the death of singer Colin Vearncombe, aged 53, who went by the stage name Black, was also held yesterday. The musician — best known for his 1987 hit ‘Wonderful Life’ — died on January 26, 16 days after he had been involved in a car crash as he travelled to Cork from his home in Schull.
Mr Vearncombe was placed into an induced coma following the accident, but passed away while in intensive care in Cork University Hospital.
Dr Cullinane heard a garda request for the inquest to be adjourned to allow for a file to be prepared for the Director of Public Prosecutions.
Dr Bolster, who carried out an autopsy on the body of Mr Vearncombe on January 27, said he suffered brain swelling, contusion, and other traumatic brain injuries due to a road traffic collision.
The inquest was adjourned until September 8.
Mr Vearncombe was cremated following a private funeral in his adopted home of Schull, and a public memorial was held in his native Liverpool.
His wife Camilla and his three sons paid tribute to the staff at the intensive treatment unit of Cork University Hospital in a statement issued following his death.
“Colin received the best possible care from the expert and highly professional staff there and we are deeply grateful for everything they did,” they said.
Mr Vearncombe’s family has since raised over €5,000 for Bru Columbanus, a facility that provides “home from home” accommodation for relatives of seriously ill patients in Cork hospitals.
