Michael Duffy
THE Lyons’ home in the townland of Carrownedan in Aghamore now lies idle. The quaint dwelling was splashed across the pages of the national media in August 2003 after the tragic circumstances surrounding the discovery of the body of Agnes Lyons emerged. An inquest into the death of the 70-year-old later revealed she had lay dead in her bedroom for over a year and she had died of self-neglect.
Last Wednesday, her sister Mary Ellen Lyons was buried alongside her. Her brother Michael ‘Sonny’ Lyons, now resident in a nursing home, was the chief mourner at the funeral which was held in St Joseph’s Church, Aghamore.
Fr John Walsh, Parish Priest in Aghamore, who officiated at the Mass and burial, said the latter years of Mary Ellen’s life had been extremely tragic.
“I visited Mary on a number of occasions but still find it hard to understand the situation that existed before they were taken into care.
“She was aware that Agnes had died, mentioned her on a number of occasions during my conversations with her, but never explained the background to both her and Sonny living in the house along with the remains,” said Fr Walsh, who went on to say that the whole situation was ‘sad beyond words’.
“I think the circumstances arose due to a tragic combination of a lack of wellbeing and ill health setting in. It was a situation that was sad beyond words.”
At the inquest, which was held in February 2004, Ms Lyons said she could not explain why she had not told anybody about the death of her sister.
Michael ‘Sonny’ Lyons said that he had little or no contact with his sisters for a number of years until he found Mary Ellen sick in the bathroom at approximately 11am on August 4, 2003. He went to find Agnes in order to get help but got a shock when he opened her bedroom door.
“I said I would get Agnes and went to the bedroom to rouse her. I pushed in the door but when I saw what was inside I got an awful shock and pulled back quickly. That was the first time I had been inside the girls’ room for about 20 years,“ Mr Lyons told the inquest.
Mr John O’Dwyer, Coroner for South Mayo, said that the death of Agnes Lyons had caused great sorrow, grief, speculation, media intrusion, accusations, bewilderment and profound sadness.
