The body of a 77-year-old man who died from hypothermia in a freezing flat in Galway was perfectly preserved due to the cold, an inquest heard yesterday.
Patrick Hanley, Tuam, Co Galway, was found partially clothed lying on the floor beside his bed in a flat over a pub in January. It had no heating and the body was found six days after he was last seen alive.
Dr John O'Callaghan, pathologist, who carried out an autopsy, said Mr Hanley's body had been effectively refrigerated in the freezing flat and was perfectly preserved. He could not therefore determine the exact time of death.
"It seems to me that the most likely cause of death was hypothermia", Dr O'Callaghan said.
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The jury returned a verdict in accordance with the medical evidence.