The Dublin City Coroner has asked the Attorney General to take High Court proceedings against a woman who has failed to attend the inquest into her husband's death on a number of adjourned dates.
Ms Linda Lee attended the first hearing of an inquest into the death of her husband, Mr Gerard Lee (31), of Seabury Park, Malahide, and it was adjourned when she declined to sign her deposition and indicated she wanted to make changes to it. However, she has not turned up since then despite being summoned.
Mr Lee, a known Dublin gangland figure, was shot dead at an impromptu party for his birthday in Coolock on March 9th, 1996. No one has been charged with killing him.
When the inquest was mentioned at the Dublin City Coroner's Court yesterday, Dr Brian Farrell, told the three Lee family members present that a senior counsel's opinion was that Ms Lee must be notified of the intention before such proceedings.
At an earlier hearing, Dr Farrell had explained to the family that the delay was because the Coroner's Court was breaking new legal ground in taking such action.
The inquest was adjourned for mention on September 8th.
A formal verdict of death by manslaughter was recorded by a jury at Dublin City Coroner's Court yesterday at an inquest into the death of Lisa Marie Sweeney, aged 17 months, of Childers Heights, Ballina, Co Mayo.
The jury was told that a 19-years-old man was convicted in the Central Criminal Court in October 1996 of the manslaughter of his then girlfriend's daughter. He is serving a nine-year sentence.
Det Garda Edward Naughton, Ballina, said Lisa Marie became ill on January 29th 1995, and after treatment at home was transferred to Mayo General Hospital and then to Beaumont Hospital where she died on January 31st.
At first it was thought she had suffered a fall but it was found her injuries were not consistent with this and an investigation was launched. A post mortem by the State Pathologist, Dr John Harbison, showed she died of a sub-dural haemorrhage due to a fracture of the back of the skull.
The coroner, Dr Brian Farrell, in sympathising with the child's mother, who was present, said it was the formal ending to a very traumatic incident and he hoped she would find the strength to cope with her tragic loss.