Inquest into death of
young mother

An inquest into the death of Dundalk woman Jacqueline McDonagh has heard she died of haemorrage from scalp wounds - and blunt force trauma to the body.

Louth County Coroner Ronan Maguire told her family yesterday (Monday) that he had been asked to adjourn the hearing by Gardai as a prosecution is underway.

Michael McDonagh - the dead woman’s husband, is awaiting trial accused of her murder.

Mr. Maguire explained to Jacqueline McDonagh’s family that the purpose of the proceedings was simply to take evidence of identification and brief medical evidence to enable him issue a full death certificate.

Garda Niall Smyth gave evidence of arriving at the scene - at College Manor in Dundalk at 3.28am on the 29th of August last.

In his deposition, he said he saw two ambulance personnel just inside the front door in the hallway where the mother of three was lying on her back.

Garda Smyth said Michael McDonagh was coming down the stairs when he asked him who the woman was. He replied “My wife Jacqueline”.

The inquest was told the 34 year old was pronounced dead at the scene by Dr. Nagmeldin Ali - a GP from the Doctor of Call service at 4.25am

Deputy State Pathologist Dr. Michael Curtis who carried out the post mortem said that cause of death was haemorrage - from scalp wounds and blunt force trauma to the body.

In adjourning the inquest, the Louth County Coroner extended his sympathy to Jacqueline McDonagh’s family - saying it was “a terrible loss”.