Inquest into death of Mayo man who suffered fatal fall while repairing roof

A verdict of misadventure has been returned at an inquest into the death of a 67-year-old Erris man who fell from a ladder onto concrete while repairing a roof on a farm shed last January.

Patrick O’Malley, Munhin, Bangor Erris, sustained fatal head injuries while attempting to fix a hole on an old style asbestos roof with sheets of galvanised iron.

The retired Bord na Mona employee was found dead by his brother, John, on January 26.

Following a post-mortem examination at Mayo University Hospital the cause of death was revealed as subarachnoid hemorrhage (type of stroke caused by bleeding) due to fracture of the base of skull because of his fall.

After hearing all the evidence at an inquest in Ballina Courthouse, Dr. Eleanor Fitzgerald, Coroner for the District of Mayo, said Mr. O’Malley had taken a risk by attempting to repair the roof while he was on his own.

Accordingly she returned a verdict of misadventure.

“The death could have been prevented if more caution had been taken on what was an unsafe task," Dr. Fitzgerald commented.

The investigating officer, Garda Michael Sweeney, Belmullet, said the deceased was lying on the shed floor between the outside wall and a narrow partition wall.

There were a number of tools on the ground beside him and a ladder was on the ground.

In a deposition read to the court on his behalf by Sergeant Sean McHale, John O’Malley explained he had been with his brother in the ‘home place’ on January 24.

His brother had mentioned to him previously about repairing a shed roof but had not spoken about it on that particular day.

On Monday, January 26, Mr. O’Malley stated, he returned and went into the house.

“I thought it was strange the radio was on but there was no fire burning.

“I thought to myself he (Patrick) might have gone for turf. It was awful quiet.

“After I changed my clothes and put on my wellingtons I went to the shed where I saw the big step ladder and a sheet of tin left on top of it.”

Continuing his deposition, Mr. O’Malley said he became worried when he saw the shed gate open as it was never open.

He added that when he tried to open a third door, where the hole in the roof was, he found the door blocked.

“It didn’t feel like timber. I was frightened. Then I went down to the fourth door and opened it.”

Mr. O’Malley said he found his brother on the ground ‘stone cold’ before he raised the alarm by ringing a neighbour, Grainne O’Malley.

In response to a question from the coroner, Mr. O’Malley said his brother could have been on the ground for 24 hours before he was found.

Sergeant Sean McHale, courts presenter, joined the coroner in expressing sympathy to the relatives of the deceased.

He said that although retired, Patrick had still enjoyed being part of the Bangor Erris community where he was liked and respected.

(Funded by the Courts Reporting Scheme).