Open verdict at inquest into Castlebar drowning

An inquest has recorded an open verdict in the case of an Achill Island native who drowned at a popular beauty spot in Castlebar.

The hearing into the death of Thomas Weir, aged 67, took place at Swinford Courthouse last week.

Garda Deborah Gilroy, of Castlebar Garda Station, told the inquest that gardaí were alerted to a body being in the water at Lough Lannagh at around 3.30pm on September 12th last. Gda Gilroy and Garda Sharona O’Toole went to the pier behind the Lough Lannagh Leisure Centre where they observed a body of a man floating face down in the water about 15 to 20 metres from the shore.

Gda Gilroy entered the water with advance paramedic Tommy Hoban and recovered the body. The male appeared blue in colour with no signs of life. There were no obvious cuts or abrasions. 

Personnel from Mayo Fire Service recovered a motorised wheelchair and a mobile phone from the water at the end of the pier which was believed to belong to the male. A red backpack and headphones were recovered along the shore. The wheelchair was marked as being the property of the Sacred Heart Home in Castlebar. It was later established that Mr Weir was a resident of the Sacred Heart Home and had previously lived at 3 Boffin Street, Westport. He was a native of Achill Island.

Later that day, Anthony Cusack, of 3 St Mary’s Apartments, Mill Street, Westport, identified the deceased to be his friend, Thomas Weir. Mr Cusack was the last person to see him alive when he left him outside Boylesports, Linenhall Street, Castlebar, at approximately 2.55pm that day. 

Sgt Hanley then contacted the deceased’s next-of-kin, his brother Mike Weir, who resides in the USA, and informed him of the death of his brother.

A post-mortem by MUH consultant pathologist Dr Fadel Bennani determined that death was as a result of asphyxia due to drowning.

Returning an open verdict in accordance with the medical evidence, coroner Pat O'Connor extended sympathy to the deceased's family.