Pub incident did not contribute to man’s death

A KILMALEY man was found to have died from a heart attack and no evidence was found in the post mortem that an incident in a pub contributed to his death, an inquest heard this week.

Anthony McElroy of Knockatunna, Kilmaley was pronounced dead in Ballynacally on January 25, 2014.

At a sitting of Clare’s Coroner’s Court, County Coroner Isobel O’Dea outlined there was a difficulty with identification of the deceased man, who was known as Anthony McElroy for the past 40 years, and as a result the inquest would need to be adjourned.

However, it was decided to hear the medical evidence in the case and Assistant State pathologist, Dr Margaret Anne Bolster told the court that the deceased man was “at risk of sudden death at any time”.

Dr Bolster noted that there was a linear laceration to the deceased man’s face but considering where the man was found, lying face down on an area where there were jagged stones, this would explain the injury.

She outlined that she was aware there was a scuffle in the public house but that there were no traces of blood found between the public house and where the man’s body was found. She determined that the injuries sustained were consistent with Mr McElroy suddenly collapsing onto a stony surface.

Dr Bolster added that there was no evidence of injuries arising from a scuffle which would have contributed to the cause of death. She said physical and emotional stress may trigger a heart attack but highlighted there were other factors in this case including the deceased man’s raised body mass index and diabetes.

She attributed cause of death to cardiac arrest, dilated cardiomyopathy with extensive ventricular fibrosis and severe coronary atherosclerosis secondary to a raised body mass index and diabetes mellitus.

The inquest was adjourned to January 26 next for further evidence.