A COUNCILLOR in Lisburn, Co Antrim, is demanding an inquiry after the bodies of an elderly widow and her son were found in their home, possibly days after freezing to death over the Christmas.
The bodies of Mrs Isobel Tierney (70), and her son, Lawrence, who was in his 40s, were found by the RUC in their home on the Magheralave Road on Tuesday.
Concerned neighbours had alerted the RUC as they had not seen the pair for days. They said the Tierneys shunned contact with outsiders. Mrs Tierney's husband died 16 years ago. She suffered from osteoporosis and had recently been in hospital. Mr Tierney, who had a video shop in Lisburn some years ago, also suffered from ill health.
Mr Seamus Close, an Alliance councillor, said he was appalled by the death. "They are a shocking indictment of society raises a big question mark as we go into 1996 that people can still die in these conditions.
"Regardless of how independent people are, or want to be, you would like to think they would come to the attention of the relevant authorities," he said, demanding an investigation.
Lisburn social services department said it was familiar with Mrs Tierney's case. She was cared for by her son and both were self sufficient, a spokesman said. Neither wanted daily social services care.
Neighbours described the conditions in the Tierney home as "scandalous". Said one woman: "The house had no heating whatsoever. I never even saw a bag of coal about the place."
A post mortem was carried out yesterday. It is believed the deaths were caused by sub zero temperatures and a lack of food.