Kerry mountain volunteers risked lives to retrieve body

The volunteers of Kerry Mountain Rescue Team have been praised at an inquest for risking their lives to recover from a steep ledge the body of a 66-year-old former marathon runner, who had climbed alone to the top of Ireland’s highest mountain, Carrauntoohil.

Patrick (Pat) O’Donoghue, a single man from College Avenue, Clonmel, County Tipperary, died after falling a great height from close to the mountain top, the Killarney inquest into his death was told.

The fall, on a day of perfect weather on Carrauntoohil on July 23, was witnessed by Sean Murphy, company director with Kerry Waste Disposa), who had stopped at 1.50pm on his way down, at the area known as The Heavenly Gates. Mr Murphy alerted the emergency services.