In a sombre turn of events, the lifeless body of a young man, Patrick O’Rourke, who either jumped or fell into the Abbey River in Limerick on the fateful night of December 20th. The body has been discovered in the Shannon, beyond Barrington’s Pier. The body was discovered in the Shannon, beyond Barrington’s Pier, on January. 17th. The circumstances of his untimely demise unfolded during the inquest conducted by Coroner J.F. Barry and a jury, with John Fitzgerald serving as the foreman.
The nephew of the deceased, Christopher O’Rourke, provided an account of the evening’s events. On December 20th, he and his uncle were together from half-past six in the evening. The duo patronized several public houses, indulging in drinks before heading to a venue referred to as the “gaff.” By around eleven o’clock, they, along with a man named John Twyford, exited the establishment. The trio, having consumed a considerable amount of alcohol, proceeded to Clohesy’s public house in Assembly Mall for yet another drink.
Their journey homeward took them across Baal’s Bridge. Witnessing the tragic incident unfold, Christopher O’Rourke recounted that he and Twyford were ahead, with his uncle following behind. As they crossed towards the bridge, a sudden splash in the water caught their attention, and upon turning around, they realized that Patrick O’Rourke had fallen into the river. The gathering crowd attempted to loosen a lifebuoy to aid in the rescue, but their efforts were hindered until the rope was cut. Despite his desperate inclination to jump in and save his uncle, Christopher was restrained by onlookers.
Surprisingly, there was no recollection of Patrick O’Rourke ever expressing suicidal thoughts. The young deceased, at the tender age of twenty, had been married for the past two years. His wife, Kathleen O’Rourke, testified at the inquest, revealing that the only unusual incident she could attribute to her husband’s state of mind was being bitten by a dog. Strikingly, the dog in question was not put down, leaving the reason for the incident unresolved. Kathleen also noted a peculiar change in her husband’s demeanour leading up to his unfortunate demise.
Dr James Roberts, who conducted the post-mortem examination, confirmed that the cause of death was drowning. The jury, aligning their verdict with the medical findings, concluded that Patrick O’Rourke’s demise was indeed due to drowning.
As Limerick mourns the loss of a young life, questions linger about the circumstances leading to the tragic incident. The inquest, shedding light on the events of that ill-fated night, provides a glimpse into the complexities surrounding this untimely death. The community now grapples with the aftermath, seeking solace and understanding following this unfortunate tragedy.
Dublin Leader – Saturday 28 January 1911
