Over 15 years after he was reported missing an inquest into the death of Kilmore native Patrick Gallagher was held at County Wexford Coroner’s Court last Thursday morning.
The 29-year-old single man was last seen on the night of September 28th, 1999, after he left the Tower Bar in Wexford town.
Mr Gallagher was at the time living at 42 Pierce Court, Wexford.
Investigating officer Detective Garda Matt Kelly told the inquest that after he departed the hostelry at 11.15p.m, “he was never seen again”.
The detective added that early last year familial DNA had been obtained from his mother Doreen Gallagher to confirm that no individual with matching results had ever been recorded on the Interpol missing persons database.
This investigation yielded no findings.
The court also heard that during the intervening years his bank account had not been accessed, nor did Mr Gallagher appear on any social welfare records or applications to the passport office.
The deceased man’s passport and bankcard were found at his apartment and returned to family members to retain.
In a deposition prepared by Mrs Doreen Gallagher of Libgate, Kilmore, County Wexford, which was read to the court by Inspector Pat McDonald of Wexford Garda Station, it was noted that her son had worked as a fisherman with the O’Flaherty brothers’ fleet in Kilmore Quay for a number of years.
Mrs Gallagher also stated that he “struggled with depression and was on medication”.
“He was on medication for a number of years. I can’t remember the name of the tablets, but I know that one of the drugs has been taken off the market because it was shown to cause suicidal tendencies,” said Mrs Gallagher.
She also added that he had attempted to self-harm on one occasion before he went missing.
“He was by and large a troubled young man…he had also had an argument with his dad in the days before he disappeared,” the mother added.
Wexford County Coroner Dr Sean Nixon asked Mrs Gallagher if it was true that on the night of his disappearance her son was seen putting a £50 note into a charity box for the RNLI, as he had read a note to this effect within the young man’s missing person file.
Mrs Gallagher confirmed that the day after her son went missing she went into a pub on Wexford’s quay front called Mooney’s to enquire if anyone had seen her son. The barman there confirmed that Mr Gallagher had been at the premises the night before and before he left deposited £50 in a collection box.
The coroner suggested that this was most likely “an indication of what he was going to do next.”
Dr Nixon concurred that Mr Gallagher most likely entered the estuary of the River Slaney at Wexford’s quay front.
“We do not have conclusive evidence but it is adequate evidence beyond reasonable doubt,” said the coroner.
He added: “It is not unusual that somebody will go missing and there not be a body to have an inquest. We have to go by circumstantial evidence.”
The coroner recommended that the jury consider a verdict of death by suicide, given the deceased’s history of depression.
However, foreman of the jury Wexford County Councillor Fergie Kehoe indicated that the jurors were not in agreement.
“Would misadventure or an open verdict be an option? If he did go into the harbour there would have been a chance of retrieving the body,” said Cllr Kehoe.
The coroner indicated that he hoped to avoid an open verdict because it offered little closure to the family who had waited 15 years to have an inquest.
In response the foreman stated that the jury was “happy to go with misadventure.”
A verdict of misadventure was recorded and a death notice will be issued to the family.