Serial fraudster and partner killed themselves, inquest hears

An inquest into the deaths of serial fraudster Julia Holmes and her partner Thomas Ruttle has heard the couple deliberately tried to kill themselves but that the precise causes of death cannot be determined.

The decomposed bodies of Mr Ruttle (56) and Ms Holmes (63) were found in the upstairs bedroom of the home they shared at Boolaglass, Askeaton, Co Limerick, on May 18th last year.

At the inquest at Newcastle West on Monday, the State Pathologist Prof Marie Cassidy said the causes of death cannot be confirmed from a pathology point of view.

However, she said no third-party was involved.

She said the couple’s bedroom was deliberately staged to produce carbon monoxide and the circumstances of the couple’s deaths were consistent with carbon monoxide poisoning.

The couple had been dead for a number of weeks when they were found lying side-by-side on a double bed by a gang of thieves who broke into their farmhouse property to steal scrap metal

A .22 rifle and a shotgun were found in the bedroom by gardaí but neither weapon had been discharged.

Embers

The inquest heard how the embers of three makeshift barbecues were found in the bedroom in front of a fireplace at the foot of the couple’s bed.

The jury also heard that the fireplace had been completely sealed - with aluminium foil stuffed up the chimney.

The bedroom windows were also closed and black material had been draped over them.

A rolled-up blue towel or blanket was found at the bottom of the main bedroom door.

Several handwritten notes were found on the kitchen table which included instructions for those who found the bodies.

Coroner Antoinette Simon said, based on the evidence, verdicts of suicide were the only option.

The jury of seven men returned verdicts of asphyxia-type death due to carbon monoxide poisoning.

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