This article is from page 4 of the 2008-10-28 edition of The Clare People. OCR mistakes are to be expected so download the original SWF or the rendered page 4 JPG
THE body of a Whitegate man, who had been missing for 32 days, was recovered following a major search operation, an inquest has heard.
23-year-old James Burke went missing after a night out with friends in Killaloe on December 9, 2007.
His body was eventually seen float- ing in the water near the canal bank in Killaloe, on January 11, 2008.
A jury recorded an open verdict at the inquest into Mr Burke’s death.
County Coroner Isobel O’Dea said there was no evidence to indicate that Mr Burke had died as a result of an altercation nor was there any evidence to suggest that he had taken his own life.
State Pathologist Dr Marie Cas- sidy said Mr Burke died as a result of drowning with alcohol intoxication a contributory factor. Tests carried out during the post mortem revealed high levels of alcohol in his blood.
Tests also revealed the deceased had taken cocaine, but not to exces- sive quantities. Dr Cassidy said that
among the items recovered from the deceased’s clothing was a “small packet of white powder”.
Dr Cassidy also told the court she found no evidence to indicate that Mr Burke had been involved in a
struggle or an assault.
Shane Malone, who had _ been drinking with Mr Burke on the day he disappeared, said, “I’d seen no one taking drugs on that day. I’m sure of that.”
Adrian Dooley, a friend of the de- ceased, said he had met Mr Burke in Mountshannon at 1.30pm before the two had gone to Killaloe.
Mr Dooley said they were with a large group of friends and they vis- ited a number of different pubs. He said that most of the group had gone home around 10.30pm but he wasn’t sure what time Mr Burke left. Mr Burke, he said, had wanted to visit another pub, The Anchor. “I tried to ring James, but there was no reply,” said Mr Dooley.
Shane Malone recalled that a bar- man in the Seannachai bar had asked Mr Burke to leave.
Barry Boland told the inquest, ‘James Burke was a lot quieter that night than [’d seen him on other nights in Whitegate and places.” Elaine Burke, the deceased’s cous- in, contacted Gardai on December 10 after Mr Burke failed to return home.