Pair released in Wexford death probe

A man and woman arrested in connection with the death of a middle-aged woman who was found severely malnourished in a house in Co Wexford days before she died were tonight released without charge.

Gardaí confirmed the pair were taken into custody this morning and were held at a station in the town.

They were questioned under section four of the Criminal Justice Act, which allowed gardai to hold them for 12 hours.

A garda spokeswoman said: “Both were released without charge and inquiries are continuing.”

Evelyn Joel, who suffered from multiple sclerosis and lived with her daughter’s family in Enniscorthy, weighed under four stone when she died in Wexford Hospital on January 6.

She was found severely malnourished and lying in her own excrement after her daughter Eleanor Joel called an ambulance on New Year’s Day.

Ms Joel had been confined to her bed since September.

Her siblings had claimed they had been prevented from visiting her in the home. Her brother, Tom Connolly, said he had tried to see his sister over the past year but was not allowed into the house.

Gardaí have spent the last three weeks taking statements from neighbours and key witnesses.

Detectives visited the house to speak to Ms Joel’s daughter and also removed a number of items from the home for examination.

A separate investigation was launched by the Health Services Executive. Chaired by Dr Joe Duggan, consultant geriatrician at Dublin’s Mater Hospital, the independent team is probing the care provided by the HSE to Ms Joel.

It is conducting a comprehensive review of the services provided from January 2004 to January 2006, but as yet there is no indication when it will be completed.

A HSE spokeswoman added: “The investigation is still at its earliest stage but the report should be completed at the earliest possible opportunity.”