A pensioner who was killed in his north county Dublin home last year died as a result of stab wounds and blunt force trauma, an inquest has heard.
The body of Christopher Hall, 65, a father of three who came originally from Garristown, Co Dublin, was discovered at his home at Dun Saithne Green in Balbriggan on November 24, 2021.
His body was found in the house on a quiet cul-de-sac, where he lived on his own, by a female relative who became concerned when he had not returned her phone calls.
Read More: Man appears in court charged with murder of Dublin pensioner Christy Hall
Mr Hall’s daughter, Siobhan Quinlan, gave evidence at a sitting of Dublin District Coroner’s Court of formally identifying her father’s body to gardai at Dublin City Mortuary in Whitehall two days after his death.
Detective Inspector Brian Downey applied for an adjournment of the inquest under Section 25 of the Coroners Act 1962 as criminal proceedings in the case have been instituted.
Det Insp Downey told the coroner, Cróna Gallagher, that a person had been charged in relation to Mr Hall’s death.
Dr Gallagher granted the application and adjourned the inquest until a date to be fixed after criminal proceedings in the case have concluded.
The coroner said a post-mortem had established that the cause of Mr Hall’s death was stab wounds and blunt force trauma.
A 20-year-old man, Owen Maughan from the Dun Saithne estate in Balbriggan, was charged with Mr Hall’s murder at a sitting of Balbriggan District Court on May 19.
Meanwhile, an inquest into the death of another pensioner who suffered a fatal assault while walking home in Fairview last year heard a Garda investigation in the case is almost complete.
Charles “Ollie” McCaughey, 69, of St Donagh’s Road, Donaghmede, was found unconscious on Fairview Strand shortly before midnight on June 7, 2021.
Mr McCaughey was brought to Beaumont Hospital but died as a result of his injuries on June 26, 2021.
Detective Inspector James McDermott told the coroner that he expected a file in relation to Mr McCaughey’s death would be sent to the DPP within the next four weeks.
Det Insp McDermott sought and was granted an adjournment of the inquest for a six-month period under the Coroners Act on the basis that criminal proceedings in the case were being considered.
Mr McCaughey’s sister, Sally Curran, gave evidence of formally identifying her brother’s body to gardai.
Dr Gallagher adjourned the inquest until a date in early December.
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