Letterkenny inquest hears of deaths of father and son two days before Christmas

A double-inquest has heard how a father and son were found dead at their home just two days before Christmas.

Daniel and Damien Duffy were found at their property in Windyhall on the outskirts of Letterkenny on December 23, 2021. The pair were found after a carer called to the pair’s bungalow home at 10.30am.

Daniel Duffy, 88, was found dead in his bed. His son Damien, 50, was found a short time later by Gardaí in a disused car in a shed at the rear of the home.

The inquests into the men’s tragic deaths were held by Donegal county coroner, Dr Denis McCauley, at Letterkenny Courthouse today. Evidence was given by a number of Gardaí witnesses as well as pathologist Dr Sally Ann Collis.

HSE care assistant Bridgeen Doherty told the inquest of calling to the home and finding the front door unlocked and calling into the bedroom to check on Daniel Duffy.

The blinds were pulled down and Ms Doherty addressed Mr Duffy saying: “Well Danny, what’s the craic?” Mr Duffy did not reply and when she turned on the light, Ms Doherty said it was obvious that he had died.

She said she initially presumed he had died in his sleep and called the emergency services. However, she then noticed there was blood on the bed and on Mr Duffy’s neck and ear. She added that she then shouted for Mr Duffy’s son Damien but was not sure why she did that as “he was never there.”

She then moved into the living area but scraped her hand on broken glass on the door and then noticed that the door was black with soot and knew immediately that something was wrong. Ms Doherty went back into the bedroom and the ambulance personnel arrived but didn’t work with Danny as she already knew he had passed away. Gardaí arrived and spoke to Ms Doherty and she then left at 11.30am to continue her work.

Ms Doherty told the inquest that she had been looking after Mr Doherty for five years since 2021. She admitted that he was getting frailer and used a crutch to get about. She added: “He was a lovely man, a real gentleman, I loved Danny.”

Garda Sergeant Elaine Gordon told the inquest she was on duty on the day and got a call of a sudden death at a house at Windyhall. Sergeant Gordon arrived at the house at 10.36am and found the deceased in the bedroom. There was no car in the driveway but later discovered that Mr Duffy’s Volkswagen Jetta car was away for a service. She attempted to phone Mr Duffy’s son Damien but got no response.

Sergeant Gordon then told how she found dark bruising on the deceased man’s right hand as well as blood on his left ear and on his pillow. She then moved to the kitchen and realised there had been a fire there. When questioned by the coroner on Mr Duffy’s death, Sergeant Gordon said her suspicions had been aroused and something “didn’t add up” when she noticed blood coming out of his ear and also some hair on the bed.

A doctor from the local Arc Medical Centre was called and he pronounced Mr Duffy dead at 3.15pm. Garda Sergeant Aidan Doherty, a Scene of Crimes officer, told how he took photographs and evidence at the scene. He said that due to the nature of the injuries, the blood and the clump of hair on the bed, he suspected there had been an interaction with another person.

Detective Sergeant Seamus O’Donnell of the ballistics division at Garda Headquarters in Dublin told how he also examined the scene. He gave an overview of the damage caused by the fire and what he found in the living area. He also explained why he did not think the fire was caused by an electrical fault as the main trip switch had not tripped in the house. He added that his conclusion was that the fire was most likely set intentionally at the rear of the living room area by lighting a newspaper or something else flammable.

Pathologist Dr Sally Ann Collis appeared by videolink at the inquests and gave her evidence following an autopsy on Mr Daniel Duffy. By way of background she told how Mr Duffy suffered from diabetes and also had heart issues and had had a pacemaker fitted previously. An external examination had shown how there was evidence of blunt force trauma and that he had received bruises and lacerations to his head, neck and upper limbs. Dr Collis added that Mr Duffy also suffered bruising on the backs of his forearms and that these may have been defensive in nature and possibly attempted restraint.

Coroner Dr McCauley asked investigating Garda Inspector Sean McDaid his opinion on how Mr Duffy died. He replied that it was his opinion that he died as a result of blunt force head injuries caused by an intracerebral hemorrhage inflicted by another.

The inquest then turned to the death of Mr Damien Duffy, aged 50. Garda Sergeant Elaine Gordon told the inquest that after finding Daniel Duffy, 88, deceased in his bed, they became concerned for his son Daniel. They initially searched woods in the Kirkstown area but then searched a shed at the back of the Duffy property at Windyhall. Upon searching the shed, they discovered Mr Duffy deceased in the driver’s seat of an old Peugeot 206 GTI car. A petrol leaf blower was also found in the car.

Pathologist Dr Collis told the inquest that her opinion was that Damien Duffy had died as a result of carbon monoxide toxicity due to inhaling toxins.

The inquest jury, comprised of five men and three women, were asked to return findings in both deaths and to confirm the cause of death. They returned unanimous verdicts in both cases. In the case of Mr Daniel Duffy, aged 88, the jury found he died as a result of blunt force head injuries (intracerebral hemorrhaging) inflicted by another. The jury also found that the cause of death was blunt force trauma. And in the case of his son, Damien Duffy, aged 50, the jury found that he died as a result of carbon monoxide toxicity inhalation of products of combustion, namely a petrol leaf blower in a confined space. They found that death was as a result of suicide.

Garda Inspector Sean McDaid expressed his condolences to the family members present as did the foreperson of the jury, Mr Michael Foy. 

Coroner Dr Denis McCauley thanked the jury, care assistant Ms Bridgeen Doherty and the gardaí for their approach to the case stressing their professional and empathy.

“When there is a death in the family it is a really traumatic thing. When there are two deaths at the same time it is really, really difficult and any issue that deviates from the fact that the person or their relative has died is always a distraction in their actual grieving process.

“It is hard to lose someone, but when there are peripheral matters….. we can’t change those peripheral matters but hopefully today by understanding what happened allows those to be almost set aside now so that you can get on with the grieving of father and brother and hopefully that, although this was difficult to bear that there would be some benefit from it.”

Anyone with any concerns about themselves or a loved one can contact the Pieta House suicide helpline, 1800 247 247, or by texting Help to 51444, or contact the Samaritans on the free number, 116 123, or by texting 087 260 9090. Both services are available 24 hours a day, seven days a week.

People are also advised to make an appointment with their local GP during office hours. During evenings, nights or weekends, from 6pm to 8am, people can contact an out-of-hours GP service at NowDoc, 1850 400 911.