AN ELDERLY woman died after she fell over and banged her head on a door hinge.
Patricia Harley, 71, of Carnmore Road, Dungloe was found by relatives who broke into her house after they had not seen her for a number of days.
Ms Harley’s nephew Vincent Magee became suspicious when he saw letters in the hall and, after breaking in, he found his aunt on the floor of the kitchen.
Ms Harley, who live alone after separating from her husband 23 years ago, was found in her kitchen on November 27th, 2009 with thirteen empty vodka bottles
and one half-empty bottle in the room.
Gardai initially suspected the pensioner may have been carried down the stairs after blood was found along the walls
of the stairway.
However Crime Scene investigator Garda Maurice McWalter said this was discounted after a full technical investigation.
Garda McWalter said he traced the trail of blood and was satisfied a door hinge in the kitchen caused Ms Harley’s head injury which
eventually led to he death.
He suggested Ms Harley banged he head and then went upstairs to rest in bed before going back downstairs where she died.
He also revealed that two pillow cases in Ms Harley’s bed had been soaked with blood.
Pathologist Dr. Michael Curtis carried out a post mortom on the dead woman.
He found she had been ‘self-neglected’ and had a skull fracture which had been caused by a fall and colliding with furniture.
There was nothing to suggest the dead woman had been assaulted, he said.
He said she had survived for several hours after banging her head.
Only a trace of alcohol was found in the dead woman’s body and Dr.Curtis concluded Ms Harley died of a head injury.
He also revealed that Ms Harley’s body was covered in bruises which may have come about from various falls.
Coroner John Cannon asked her nephew Mr Magee if he was aware she had a drink problem.
Mr Magee said he didn’t think his aunt had a drink problem and was surprised by the number of vodka bottles found in her kitchen.
“She was a proud person and didn’t need company. Her lifetime friend passed away a year previously and after she died, she went
downhill. They used to get dressed up and go for dinner together,” said Mr Magee.
Coroner John Cannon said it appeared she slipped or tripped in the kitchen but said it appeared there was no assault.
“I am convinced by the evidence that if a person slipped against a hinge that she would have suffered this head injury,” he said.
The jury found unanimously in accordance with the coroner’s direction that Ms Harley died as a result of a head injury.
Ends
DUNGLOE WOMAN DIED FROM HEAD INJURY
