Shotgun found under couple's bodies in Sligo

A shotgun was discovered beneath the bodies of an English couple who were found after a fire destroyed their rural retreat in Co Sligo, an inquest heard yesterday.

A jury at Sligo coroner's court found that Frank Bailey, who had been Lord Carrington's gardener before moving to Ireland, died from a self-inflicted gunshot injury.

They recorded a verdict of unlawful killing in the case of his wife Celia, who died from a gunshot injury to the back of her head.

Sgt John Barry confirmed that gardaí were looking for no one else in relation to the deaths.

The coroner, Dr Desmond Moran, commented that the couple must have "gone through terrible trauma" before the incident at their home in Achonry, Ballymote, Co Sligo.

Mr Bailey's brother Harry, who had travelled from England for the inquest, told the coroner that Ms Bailey (54) suffered from multiple sclerosis. She had been on medication in England but they had found medication in Ireland very expensive and she was not taking any here.

Dr Moran said there was "a great pathos" about the case. Commenting that "one cannot be judgmental", he said the Baileys were obviously a loving couple but had found it difficult to deal with things. He said they were popular in the community into which they had moved some months before their deaths.

The jury of seven men had been told that two terrier dogs had also been shot dead in the house on the night of the fire, which was spotted by a passerby at 12.25am on March 9th, 2005.

Dr Moran said the single-storey house was an inferno with flames 20 yards high. The badly burned remains of the couple were discovered lying side by side in the house. Both were identified by their dental records.

State Pathologist Dr Marie Cassidy told the jury that Ms Bailey appeared to have been in a nightdress and had been lying face-down, probably on the bed, when she died. Mr Bailey, who suffered a gunshot wound through the roof of his mouth, had possibly been sitting on a chair.

The jury was told that the high-pressure water hoses and the movement of the fire crews who had to battle intense heat in the house may have disturbed the scene. The interior of the house was destroyed in the fire. Gardaí found one used cartridge in the gun which was owned by Mr Bailey. No trace of the cartridges used to kill Ms Bailey or the dogs were found. It had not been possible to determine the cause of the fire.

Dr Cassidy said there was no evidence of alcohol or prescription drugs in Ms Bailey's system. The devastating damage to the body was consistent with her having been close to the seat of the fire.

She said Frank Bailey's body had also been extensively damaged in the fire. There was no evidence of soot or smoke inhalation in either case, which suggested that they were dead when the fire took hold. Pressed on whether the fire could have started after the death of the couple, she said she could not exclude that.