Deaths of Roscommon couple not considered suspicious

GARDAÍ INVESTIGATING the deaths of an elderly couple at their home in Co Roscommon do not suspect foul play.

The bodies of Paddy Joe (67) and Annie McCormack (76) were discovered on the kitchen floor of their home at Cleen, Knockvicar, Co Roscommon, on Tuesday night. The alarm was raised after the local postmistress and her husband became concerned for the welfare of their neighbours.

A postmortem is due to be carried out today.

While gardaí say they are keeping an open mind, one theory being investigated is that the deaths may be linked to a solid fuel range in the kitchen of their home. A number of bags of coals were piled in the front garden at their home, which is on a quiet rural road eight miles from Boyle.

Cathal and Anne Beirne, who have a shop and post office in Knockvicar, called to the McCormacks' home on Tuesday night. A light was on and when they looked through a window they could see the two bodies on the floor. They immediately alerted gardaí who arrived at about 10pm.

Mr Beirne said yesterday that when the couple failed to turn up at the shop as usual on Tuesday to buy the Roscommon Herald, he and his wife became worried. Contrary to some reports, the McCormacks, who did not have a phone, had been seen since Thursday. Some neighbours said they were out and about on Monday.

"They were a grand quiet couple," he said. "It is very sad. "

One woman pointed out that the bodies might not have been found for several days if the Beirnes had not been so concerned about the welfare of their neighbours.

"It does show the importance of the post office in quiet rural places such as this," she said.

The couple were a familiar sight on their Honda 50 motorbike and were described as a friendly pair who had no enemies.

"They were a quiet, inoffensive couple," said neighbour Tim Duignan. "No one had a bad word to say about them and they would never say a bad word about anyone else. People here are very sad and shocked. This is not something you would expect to happen in your own neighbourhood."

Several neighbours said that the McCormacks regularly travelled to nearby towns such as Boyle and Drumshanbo on the Honda 50. "Paddy Joe was very careful and if there was an hour's frost, he would not take the Honda out," Mr Duignan said.

He said that apart from their regular trips to town, the only other place couple were seen was at Mass.

Mr McCormack had worked on the roads with Roscommon County Council but it is understood that he had retired early because of ill health. His wife, a native of Co Leitrim, had worked for a local family but had also been retired for some years.

Supt Tom Commons of Boyle Garda station confirmed that there was no sign of a break-in at the house and no evidence of violence or obvious injuries on the bodies. The couple's Honda 50 could be seen parked in a shed at their home yesterday.

A post-mortem is due to be carried out at University Hospital Galway today.