Anton McNulty
A WESTPORT man who died on the same day as the body of his future brother in law was discovered died as a result of a heart attack, the inquest into his death heard.
Peter Geraghty of Tubberhill, Westport was found dead in his car on Sunday, December 6 last just hours after hearing that his future brother-in-law, Noel Gill had been found dead in Rotterdam where he was missing since November 19.
Thirty-nine-year old, Petie as he was known, the longtime partner of Noel’s sister, Caroline Gill, and father of their two children had earlier in the day complained of severe pain in his left arm and had returned to his home to see the doctor.
Dr Fadel Bennani, consultant pathologist who carried out the post-mortem told the inquest that the cause of death was natural and due to sudden fatal cardiac arrhythmia, and this explained the pain in the arm. When asked by the coroner, Mr John O’Dwyer if anything could be done if he had seen a doctor earlier, he replied that it was possible.
Frank Gill, the brother of Noel Gill told the inquest that Petie had come to his parents home at Horkan’s Hill at around 1pm and complained that his left arm was in pain. He said he asked his mother, Bernie Gill to call Westdoc and went to his own home to get his phone before going to the doctor.
Karen Moore said she had called to the Gill family home at 3.30pm to sympathise following Noel’s death. She said that Mrs Gill was worried about Petie and suggested that she drive around to different locations to see if she could find him. When she could not find him she went to Frank Gill’s home where she rang A&E but nobody by the name of Peter Geraghty had been admitted.
At 4.30pm, she accompanied Grainne McGovern to Petie’s home at Tubberhill and when they approached the home they saw his Mini Cooper car parked outside. Petie was sitting in the drivers seat and they could not find a pulse. The emergency services were contacted and CPR was performed on him but he could not be resuscitated.
Mr O’Dwyer recorded a verdict of death from natural causes and extended his sympathies to Mr Geraghty’s partner, Caroline and their two children, Chelsea and Kayleigh.
“This was a double tragedy for the Geraghty and Gill families having received one news and another news on top of it. I hope Caroline learns to cope with the tragedy and the cross she carries. He [Petie] was a man in the prime of life who planned to get married and this is a tragic situation,” he said.
Inspector Joe McKenna said he knew Mr Geraghty personally and extended his sympathy to his parents, Seán and Marie and to all the extended Gill and Geraghty families.
