Inquest into death of serial fraudster

The sad details over what led to the deaths of a serial fraudster grandmother and her beekeeper lover are to be disclosed today at their joint inquest in West Limerick.

Gardaí believe Tyrone- born Julia Holmes, and her innocent partner Thomas Ruttle, died after inhaling fumes from a charcoal barbecue which was placed next to them in a bedroom sealed from the inside in Mr Ruttle’s house in Boolaglass.

Their badly decomposed bodies were discovered on May 18, 2015, by members of the Harty Traveller gang, from Askeaton, who broke into the Ruttle family home.

Members of the gang have been summonsed as witnesses to give evidence today.

The gang were charged with burglary last October and bound to the peace for 12 months.

Ms Holmes, a fraudster, and the subject of an international police hunt across many countries, was found lying next to Mr Ruttle in bed. Suicide notes allegedly written by both parties were found by gardaí.