The coroner for Kerry has returned an open verdict at the inquest of a man who drowned in the River Laune last year.
The inquest into the death of Timothy ‘Teddy’ Tuohy, of Kilgobnet Beaufort, took place at the coroner’s court in Tralee.
The body of Mr Tuohy, who was 60 years old, was recovered from the water on the morning after St Patrick’s Day last year.
The inquest heard that on St Patrick’s Day last year, Mr Tuohy went into Killorglin around 1pm and was drinking in Paud O’Neills pub.
He met with friends and relatives, and was still in the pub when they departed by 11pm.
The barman tried to call a taxi for Mr Tuohy, who lived seven miles from the town, but the taxi would not be there for an hour and a half.
The barman recommended Mr Tuohy go to the Old Forge, which would be open until 2am, and he would be more likely to get a taxi in that area.
Garda Brian McCarthy told the inquest that CCTV footage showed him leaving Paud O’Neills alone at 1:10am on the 18th March 2024, before he walked down Main Street.
He was seen walking up Market Street and back again, stopping in a doorway of a business, and talking to someone briefly, before walking down Lower Bridge Street towards Bianconi corner.
His last sighting on CCTV was at 1:27am, when he turned Bianconi corner down Annadale Road, which the inquest heard does not have CCTV.
Shortly before 7:30am on the 18th March, a passerby with his dog saw a man’s body in the water in the River Laune near the old railway bridge, known as the Iron Bridge.
The man said he initially hoped it was a mannequin, but looked again and knew it was a man’s body and immediately called for help.
The body had been caught on overhanging branches in the water.
Garda McCarthy said the River Laune flows from in the direction of the Bianconi corner towards the Iron Bridge, so he probably entered the water on the Bianconi side of the bridge.
Garda McCarthy said there is a car park down the Annadale Road with no fencing separating it from the water, and it’s most likely this is where he entered the water.
Coroner Aisling Quilter said the toxicology report showed Mr Tuohy had a toxic level of alcohol in his system when he died, and this was very important when considering a verdict.
Ms Quilter said she was satisfied to record the cause of death, as per the post-mortem, as acute respiratory failure due to drowning, in addition to alcohol toxicity.
Ms Quilter returned an open verdict, adding a verdict of suicide would not be appropriate, and there was not sufficient information to declare an accidental death.
She expressed condolences to Mr Tuohy’s family.
