A popular school teacher and semi-professional footballer died after climbing a mountain alone, an inquest has heard. Atherton Town centre back Kieran Halliwell, 35, was discovered unresponsive on a ‘steep section’ of Mweelrea, in Co Mayo, Ireland, on August 18 2021.
During a documentary inquest at Bolton Coroners Court, senior coroner Timothy Brennand read a number of statements in the hearing, including one from Kieran’s father Robert Halliwell. Mr Halliwell described Kieran as his “best friend” and told the court that he was “very experienced” in climbing mountains.
In August, Kieran joined a family holiday in Ireland but decided to stay in the country when everyone else went home, so that he could climb Mweelrea and then meet up with some friends from university. A friend named Daniel Sammon was the last person to see Kieran alive, the inquest heard.
