A MAN who disappeared on his way home more than seven years ago most likely drowned in the Tolka river and was washed out to sea, an inquest heard yesterday.
Christopher Johnson (75), St Mary’s Road, East Wall, Dublin left the family home at about 2pm on November 13th, 2001, to go to a pub in Fairview, where he was a regular customer.
He left the pub at about 6.15pm and went to catch the bus home.
The last sighting of the missing man, who suffered from glaucoma, was by a bus driver, who did not stop at the bus stop where Mr Johnson was waiting, as the bus was full, Dublin City Coroner’s Court heard.
Family members began a search for Mr Johnson when he failed to return home by 8pm and he was reported missing at 10pm.
An extensive Garda search commenced that night with the assistance of the Garda Air Support Unit and continued the following day with the involvement of community gardaí, the Garda Dog Unit, the sub-aqua unit, Sgt Pádraig Moran of Store Street Garda station told the inquest. A search of Dublin Bay was conducted by the air and sea rescue services and an extensive media appeal for information was launched, but all efforts proved futile.
Gardaí believe that Mr Johnson, who had a bladder problem, may have fallen into the Tolka river while making his way home, the inquest heard.
Coroner Dr Brian Farrell, who received written permission from Minister for Justice Dermot Ahern to conduct the inquest under Section 23 of the Coroner’s Act 1962, said he was satisfied that on the balance of probability, Mr Johnson died on the day of his disappearance.
“The evidence would indicate he probably died by drowning in the river Tolka at Fairview, Dublin.
“The river is tidal up to a half a mile from the river mouth and the body might have been washed out to sea. I think it’s a highly likely explanation of what happened,” said the coroner, who was unable to determine the precise circumstances or to give an exact cause of death.
He recorded an open verdict and expressed his condolences to Mr Johnson’s family.