'Hostel resident kicked in head days before death'

A man who suffered from schizophrenia and Parkinson’s Disease received an unmerciful kick to the head 10 days before he died, an inquest heard today.

James Doyle, 44, was found dead in his room at the Maple House hostel on the North Circular Road in Dublin in February 2002.

Mr Doyle, who was described by staff at the hostel as a harmless man who liked listening to music tapes, had previously been involved in a row with another resident in the TV room. He complained to staff afterwards that he was suffering from the worst headache of his life.

Dublin city coroner Brian Farrell adjourned the inquest to consider the admissibility of statements made to gardaí by Mr Doyle’s family and friends.