A VERDICT of accidental death was returned last night by a jury at the inquest in Dublin into the death of a wealthy English businessman who had assured his life for £5.86 million.
Mr David Ivor Swaffer, (62) a share dealer from Roedean Crescent, Brighton, East Sussex, was found to be dead when his hired car, a Volvo 850, was found submerged in two metres of water in the Grand Canal at Suir Bridge Kilmainham, Dublin, on October 22nd last year.
Yesterday was the second full day of the hearing of evidence in the inquest into Mr Swaffer's death. The jury of five men and two women retired to consider their verdict at 8.40 p.m. and returned shortly after 10 p.m.
They returned a verdict of accidental death, and found that the cause of death was consistent with drowning.
The dead man, a father of two, had taken out life assurance cover to a total value of £5.86 million with 18 companies.
A solicitor, Mr Brian Strahan, acting for the 18 companies, vigorously queried the circumstances of Mr Swaffer's drowning.
Mr Michael Staines, a solicitor acting for the Swaffer family, said outside the Dublin Coroner's Court: "We were fully vindicated in fighting this case which has taken a toll of grief over a seven month period, particularly on Mr Swaffer's two sons.
A Dublin woman, Ms Carmel Reid, told the inquest of her 10 year relationship with Mrs Swaffer. Ms Reid, who has been separated from her husband for 16 years, said Mr Swaffer used to contact her every four to eight weeks. He had spoken to her on the telephone the night before his death.
Ms Reid (52) a part time secretary and the mother of a grown up son, told the inquest that while she was aware that Mr Swaffer was financially comfortable, she was not aware that he had made a will or that she was a beneficiary.
The first she heard of this will, she said, was when two insurance investigators called to her door and suggested Mr Swaffer might, have, committed suicide. She told, the inquest on Tuesday that the investigators "behaved like thugs" when they "interrogated" her.
Ms Reid said it was one week after Mr Swaffer's death before she found out that he was dead. She received a telephone call from his son, Eric - to whom she had never spoken before - who had found her name on one of his father's assurance policies and decided to contact her. It was only as a result of this telephone call that she learned of his death She was deeply shocked.
The inquest heard that Mr Swaffer checked into the Hotel Pierre in Dun Laoghaire on October 12th and subsequently stayed in the Lansdowne Hotel in Ballsbridge, Dublin, until October 21st. His body was found by three children who were paying alongside the Grand Canal at about 10.15 a.m. on October 22nd.
Investigating gardai told the inquest there were no witnesses, either to Mr Swaffer leaving the hotel, or to his car entering the water. Foul play was not suspected, they said.
Prior to the jury's verdict last night, Mr Swaffer's son, Eric (30) denied that his father had suffered from any mental illness or depression prior to his death. "He was relatively easy going, good natured and suicide was totally out of the question. The whole suggestion is completely ridiculous and shows how the assurance companies have been ruthless with us."
Mr Staines handed in a letter to the inquest from Dr H. R. Carter, the dead man's general practitioner, which stated that Mr Swaffer had been his patient since October, 1983.
The letter said that Mr Swaffer was in good health and did not suffer any sign of mental illness or depression. His last appearance at Dr Carter's surgery was on December 22nd, 1994, when he had his ears syringed.
Garda Aidan Loughnane, a public service vehicle inspector told the inquest that the deceased's black car, hired Hertz, had a mileage of 11,88 and had no defects in its steering, tyres or engine to count for the incident.
Garda Loughnane said he examined the vehicle five weeks after the incident. He found damage to its left front wheel and bonnet, which was consistent with it hitting a wall after mounting a kerb. This may or may not have happened simultaneously at the scene.
The Dublin city coroner, Brian Farrell, recorded a verdict of accidental death and expressed his sympathy to the Swaffer family.