Anton McNulty
A FORMER Castlebar Celtic footballer died after suffering a massive heart attack following a family get-together, the inquest into his death heard.
Gregory Earls (59) of 1 Knockthomas Drive, Castlebar collapsed and died on January 31 last in the home of his partner after suddenly complaining of a headache and tightness in his chest.
The inquest heard that in the hours leading up to his death he was in good form and never complained of any ailments.
His daughter, Kiara Gannon told the inquest that she had spent most of the previous day with her father in Castlebar after she came down from Dublin.
She said they had a bit to eat at her mother’s home and then a group of her family met up at his house in Knockthomas Drive for a get-together.
She said that when everyone left at 3.30am, they stayed up talking until 6.30am when she decided to go to bed, and he said he was going out.
“My father was in great form all day and we talked about a lot of things that night and had a very enjoyable time,” she told the inquest.
“Sometime after 9am my brother David came to the house and told me that my Dad had died of a massive heart attack.
It came as a massive shock as I had only seen him two or three hours before and he was in fine form.”
The inquest also heard from Mr Earls former wife Breege and his son, David who both said that he had made no complaints about feeling unwell. “As far as I am aware he was in good health even though he had old football injuries which bothered him,” said David.
Mr Earls partner, Carmel McIntyre said that he arrived at her house at 5 Lower Charles Street, Castlebar at approximately 7am and sat down at the kitchen table.
She said he never complained of any ailments before but started to complain of a headache and tightness in his chest.
After talking for about 20 minutes he collapsed on the chair and his pulse started to get weaker.
Margaret Ludden and Martin Cawley who were also in the house called the ambulance and tried to make him comfortable.
The ambulance crew performed CPR on him but he died in the house.
Dr Fadel Bennani, Consultant Pathologist who performed the post mortem explained that the histology showed signs of a silent heart attack which may have occurred months or years before.
He also explained that the level of alcohol in his body was very high.
Dr Bennani told the inquest that the cause of death was due to ischemic heart disease and acute alcohol intoxication may have been a contributing factor.
Mr John O’Dwyer, the Coroner for South Mayo gave a verdict of misadventure and extended his sympathy to the family of Mr Earls, who he said was known to him.
