GARDAÍ FOUND bloodstains in the car owned by two Waterford-based sisters who both drowned off a Co Clare beach in March, an inquest has been told.
At the inquest in Ennis, Co Clare yesterday, county coroner Isobel O’Dea returned an open verdict into the deaths of Pamela Moore (57) and her sister Denise (55) on March 18th at White Strand beach, Miltown Malbay.
The two were last seen at 6.15pm the previous evening.
A local man, Frank Buckley, found the women’s bodies washed up on White Strand beach at 10.20am the following day.
Assistant State Pathologist Dr Michael Curtis said there were bloodstains found in their car along with a bloodstained blanket.
The keys were in the ignition and a dog was also found in the car.
Dr Curtis said that on post-mortem examination of Denise Moore’s body, he found an inside wound to her left wrist.
The wound was horizontal, superficial and extended to the depth of fat. He said it “would be entirely consistent with a self-inflicted wound”.
Dr Curtis said Denise Moore died from drowning and there was no evidence to indicate that she had been assaulted. Dr Curtis said Pamela Moore died from drowning and there was no evidence of any injuries on her body.
The sisters were born in Birmingham, but returned to Ireland to rent a home in Waterford last Christmas, having spent the 1980s and early 1990s living in Fermoy.
Ms O’Dea said that in the circumstances surrounding the death of Pamela and Denise, “There is a gap in the information . . . I am satisfied obviously that there is no suspicion of foul play.”
She said it was appropriate to return an open verdict due to the insufficient evidence over how the women died.
