Verdict of accidental death recorded by Limerick coroner after woman falls down stairs
A GRANDMOTHER died after tragically falling down the stairs, an inquest at Kilmallock Courthouse heard.
A family member who was in the house - on a date last year - heard two bangs and they thought a pet had knocked something over. Emergency services were immediately contacted.
Consultant Pathologist, Dr Teresa Laszlo said the postmortem showed a massive intracranial haemorrhage due to a skull fracture.
Limerick coroner John McNamara said it was a very serious injury and Dr Laszlo said it was “incompatible with life”.
A toxicology report showed alcohol in her system at a moderate level. The inquest heard it was a narrow carpeted staircase in an old house.
Mr McNamara said somebody who was sober could have fallen as easily as a person who had consumed a drink.
“It’s the way you land or maybe she banged her head on the way down. A medical team could have been on hand at the bottom of the stairs and they wouldn’t have been able to save her,” said McNamara, who recorded a verdict of accidental death.
The coroner expressed his condolences to the family present. Inspector Gearoid Thompson extended his sympathies on behalf of An Garda Siochana.
The family thanked the coroner and the inspector.