This article is from page 8 of the 2013-04-23 edition of The Clare People. OCR mistakes are to be expected so download the original SWF or the rendered page 8 JPG
THE Ennis man who concealed the dead body of Frank Hassett in his shower has said he did not give the deceased methadone prior to his death.
Frank Hassett’s badly decomposed body was discovered at Lifford Lodge, Ennis, on July 3 (2011) in a bedsit rented by Bernard Flaherty (38).
The 25 year old from 70 Drumbig gle Road, had been missing for 19 days, resulting in a major search operation in Ennis.
Frank Hassett died sometime between the hours of June 14 and June 15 (2011) at Lifford Lodge.
He was reported missing by his brother Ian on June 20 (2011).
Mr Flaherty, with an address at 3 Lifford Lodge, Ennis, was questioned yesterday over the presence of methadone in Mr Hassett’s body.
At the end of Mr Flaherty’s deposition at Clare County Coroner’s Court, the deceased’s brother Ian Hassett asked if his brother had consumed methadone in the hours prior to his death.
Mr Flaherty said, “We didn’t take it in my flat…He didn’t take it off me.” Mr Flaherty said they smoked cannabis and some prescribed drugs.
The inquest also heard from Patrick Ballard, a homeless man who lived with Bernard Flaherty at Lifford Lodge for a while during June 2011.
Mr Ballard said Bernard Flaherty told him he could not use the toilet because it was blocked. He said the smell got worse day by day and Mr Flaherty used “body spray” and “opened windows to get rid of it”.
Mr Ballard said he never saw Frank Hassett in the apartment. He added, “I didn’t know Frank Hassett’s body was in the toilet.”
Det Gda Kieran Kelleher told the inquest that he called to the bed-sit twice, on June 24 and July 3 (2011). He said on the second occasion Bernard Flaherty started crying, saying Frank Hassett’s body had been the shower for the past three weeks.
Det Kelleher added, “Bernard opened the bathroom door and the smell was overpowering.”
He said Patrick Ballard was in the sitting room “watching a match on television”.
Kevin Collins, the landlord who owns Lifford Lodge, told the inquest that he visited Bernard Flaherty’s bed-sit on June 29 (2011). Mr Collins said he went as far as the door and did not notice anything unusual or get any smell.
Clare County Coroner Isobel O’Dea said the appropriate verdict was one of misadventure. She said the collection of drugs found in his system “may have caused Mr Hassett’s death”.
Ms O’Dea extended her sympathies to the Hassett family. Insp John Galvin offered condolences on behalf of the gardaí.