This article is from page 49 of the 2007-11-06 edition of The Clare People. OCR mistakes are to be expected so download the original SWF or the rendered page 49 JPG
THE badly decomposed body of a 19-year-old student which washed ashore at Fanore on April 4, 2004, had a very high blood alcohol level, Ennis Coroner’s Court heard last ete
Alan Duffy from Kilmovee, Bal- laghadreen in County Mayo went missing following a night out in Gal- way City on March 22, 2004.
The court heard that the first year NUI Galway student attended a house party on the evening he disap-
eer NKslem According to witness Clare O’Halloran, Mr Duffy travelled
with a group to the GPO nightclub before she spotted him on a walkway underneath the Salmon Weir Bridge just before 3am.
“He was walking down a metal walkway and he seemed really
drunk. I phoned the guards then, it was about 2.50am,’ she said.
After an extensive two week search involving gardai, coastguard and members of the public, the body was discovered by local man, James Callinan, on Fanore beach on April 4, 2004.
Mr Duffy’s brother, Brendan, travelled to Clare but was unable to identify the body because of its con- dition.
The body was identified using den- tal records following an autopsy. The court heard that the autopsy found a number of lacerations on the body as well as bruising to the head and body. It also showed a blood alcohol level of 170mg and found no traces of narcotics.
The court heard doctor’s evidence that Mr Duffy’s injuries were con- sistent with drowning and the only injury that could have been inflicted
before death was a small bruise on the left upper arm.
Giving her verdict, County Clare Coroner, Isobel O’Dea, ruled out suicide.
“TI am satisfied that there was no severe antimortem injury. I am satis- fied that there was no third part in- volvement and there was no evidence of suicide. We don’t know what hap- pened so I am going to give an open verdict,’ he said.