A CORONER yesterday recorded a verdict of death by suicide at the inquest into the death of Dublin businessman and property developer Patrick Rocca.
Mr Rocca (42), of Homeleigh, Castleknock, died from massive brain and cranial injuries caused by a single gunshot wound to the head, said Dublin county coroner Dr Kieran Geraghty.
Garda Desmond Dowd, of Blanchardstown Garda station, told the inquest he was called to Mr Rocca’s home at about 9.30am on January 19th last and that when he arrived he saw a shotgun and a man, later identified to him as Mr Rocca, who had sustained a gunshot wound to the head.
He said he found nothing suspicious at the scene and that Mr Rocca’s wife, Annette Rocca, told him her husband had been taking medication for depression.
In a statement read by Garda Dowd, Mr Rocca’s brother, Bernard, said he spoke to Patrick before Christmas and that he did not seem his usual self.
The inquest heard that Patrick Rocca said things were going badly, was having problems sleeping and that he was considering ending it all.
The statement said Patrick had been in contact with a doctor following this and that when Bernard met him at Christmas he seemed to be back to his usual self.
Bernard Rocca said he had no idea his brother was considering taking his life, but the fact his body was found at an area outside his home where there was no CCTV coverage suggested he had planned his death. He said his brother was a kind person and a good father who was sadly missed.
A statement from Ms Rocca, read by Garda Dowd, said her husband had gone to bed early on the night of January 18th but had risen during the night.
Mr Rocca had returned to bed before she left the house at about 8am the next morning. When she returned a short time later he was not inside. Ms Rocca found her husband outside the house and called an ambulance, but her statement said she knew he was dead because of his colour.
She said her husband was a decent, honourable man and a loving father who she hoped would be remembered that way.
Dr Eamon Lean, who carried out the postmortem examination on Mr Rocca, said he died instantly from a self-inflicted gunshot wound which caused massive brain and cranial injuries. He added that toxicology tests found no traces of medication, drugs or alcohol in Mr Rocca’s blood.
Recording a verdict of death by suicide, Dr Geraghty said massive brain and cranial injuries were the cause of Mr Rocca’s death. He extended his sympathy to the family of the deceased.
