Gardaí rule out foul play in Cork pensioner’s death

Postmortem results indicate elderly woman (89) suffered injuries consistent with a fall

There was no sign of a forced entry to the house. File photograph: The Irish Times
There was no sign of a forced entry to the house. File photograph: The Irish Times

Gardaí have said there is nothing suspicious about the death of a pensioner found in her home outside Cork city after a postmortem ruled out foul play.

The body of the 89-year-old woman was found by a relative at about 9pm on Tuesday when they called on the pensioner who lived alone at Ardrostig in Waterfall.

Emergency services were called but she was pronounced dead at the scene and gardaí from Bishopstown and Togher Garda stations were also alerted.

Officers under Supt Charlie Barry of Togher Garda station requested the services of the State Pathologist's Office as a precautionary measure to try and establish the exact cause of death.

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There was no sign of a forced entry to the house but a patio door was open, prompting concerns among gardaí as to the possibility of an intruder. Consequently, technical experts conducted a forensic examination of the house.

A postmortem on Wednesday afternoon found that the woman suffered injuries consistent with a fall and foul play was not a factor in her death.

Gardaí also carried out door to door inquiries in the Ardrostig area and spoke to relatives and established that the woman was last seen alive on Sunday when she was visited by a relative.

Barry Roche

Barry Roche

Barry Roche is Southern Correspondent of The Irish Times