AN 18-MONTH-OLD boy was found alive in the Dublin house where his young mother had earlier hanged herself, an inquest was told yesterday. Ms Beverly Mary Corcoran (18) had erected a child safety gate at the top of the stairs to protect her son, before taking, her life at their home in Bawnlea Green, Tallaght, Co Dublin on September 25th, 1995.
Garda Insp Decian O'Brien told the Dublin Coroner's court yesterday it had been decided to call in the Chief State Pathologist and to hold an investigation into the hanging. This was prompted by gardai having been told of an assault and a death threat on the single mother by a man six days previously, and also criminal damage being caused to her home on November 20th, 1995.
Gardai found the upstairs rooms disturbed, a window open and children's toys strewn on the floor. An 18-month-old boy was found behind a child safety gate at the top of the stairs. Insp O'Brien said the woman's body was found suspended from a nylon clothes line tied from a roof rafter. No suicide note was found.
Ms Corcoran's boyfriend, who died in England on November 24th last, in a statement read to the inquest said there had been rows between the couple and when he spoke to her on the previous Saturday she had told him she was thinking of killing herself.
Prof John Harbison, Chief State Pathologist, said death had resulted from the hanging. He found no evidence of injuries or assault other than those related to noose marks on her neck and spine.
The jury recorded a verdict of death by suicide.