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BreakingNews.ie
21 minutes ago
- BreakingNews.ie
Coroner rejects calls to refer details to gardaí after Offaly farmer (75) dies day after wedding
A coroner has rejected calls to refer the circumstances of the death of an Offaly farmer (75) on the day after he got married to gardaí for a detailed forensic investigation. The dramatic application was made at the conclusion of a three-day inquest into the death of Joe Grogan (75) who died at his home in Screggan, Tullamore, Co Offaly on April 15th, 2023 just 24 hours after he got married to to his part-time carer, Lisa Flaherty, in a registry office unknown to any of his relatives who were unaware the couple were even in a relationship. Advertisement Mr Grogan was a well-known figure in Irish farming circles for hosting the National Ploughing Championships between 2016 and 2018, while the farm will also stage this year's event in September. The inquest at Offaly Coroner's Court in Tullamore heard that Ms Flaherty – a special needs assistant and mother of three who was 26 years junior to her husband– stands to inherit the 220-acre farm which is valued at €5.5 million as his widow. It had previously heard that the cause of the farmer's death could not be determined because it was embalmed before a postmortem could be carried out which restricted the tests that could be conducted by a pathologist. The farmer had been diagnosed with Stage IV Non-Hodgkin lymphoma (a form of blood cancer) in January 2023 and had responded well to treatment, although Ms Flaherty gave evidence that he believed he was dying. Advertisement On Tuesday, counsel for three cousins of the deceased – Alo, Margaret and Seán Grogan – Damien Tansey SC, called on the coroner, Raymond Mahon, not to return a verdict and to refer the matter to the DPP for a forensic examination of Mr Grogan's death by gardaí. Mr Tansey said it would be most unfair to the farmer's memory and to his family if the request was declined. Separately, Peter Jones, a solicitor for an aunt of the deceased, Teresa Mooney, also asked the coroner to refer the death to gardaí and to return an open verdict. Mr Jones claimed the inquest had left 'an awful lot of unanswered questions' and the circumstances of Mr Grogan's death could only be challenged by trained personnel used to investigating 'suspicious deaths.' Advertisement However, Mr Mahon returned a narrative verdict based on extensive evidence and claimed the farmer's death was probably due to an infection on the balance of probabilities. He noted the deceased was a person with a Stage IV high grade cancer who was receiving chemotherapy treatment with a compromised immune system who had also suffered 'significant weight loss". Mr Grogan's weight went from 79kg in June 2022 to 67.6kg at the time he was diagnosed with cancer and to 51kg at the time of his death. The coroner said evidence from witnesses of Mr Grogan's 'slow, elongated decline' lent support to his view that Mr Grogan's death was caused by an infection. Advertisement Widow of Joe Grogan, Lisa Flaherty, pictured leaving the Tullamore Coroner's Court. Photo: Colin Keegan/Collins Dublin He rejected the suggestion of Mr Tansey that a verdict of unlawful killing could be considered as the evidence was not 'anywhere near the level of proof' required to support such a finding. Referring to a claim by Mr Jones that the farmer had been 'left to die,' Mr Mahon said there was valid criticism about the way Mr Grogan's care was managed following his last session of chemotherapy. However, Mr Mahon, who retired as coroner following the case, noted that the deceased had repeatedly told people he did not want to go to hospital and a relative had stated that it was obvious he was dying. In a submission, Mr Tansey said there was disquiet in the area where Mr Grogan lived over the circumstances of his death which had been significantly added to by the evidence heard at the inquest. Advertisement He claimed that the coroner also appeared 'sufficiently troubled' to repossess the body after it had been embalmed to allow an examination to be carried out to try and establish the cause of death. Mr Tansey said the pathologist Charles D'Adhemar, was working in impossible circumstances due to the 'irreparable damage' caused by the embalming process. However, he noted that Dr D'Adhemar had been able to detect the presence of three drugs in the body of the deceased which if used in a combination of large quantities could cause respiratory depression. Mr Tansey accused Ms Flaherty of telling 'porkies' by putting out a false narrative that the farmer was at the end stage of life and requiring palliative care. He observed that Ms Flaherty had not tried to explain that she was in an 'on-off relationship' with Mr Grogan when she gave evidence that their relationship had been over 16 years but later having to admit that she had another partner up to 2020. Mr Tansey said another troubling issue was the secrecy surrounding the couple's marriage about which even Ms Flaherty's sister and best friend were unaware. He also observed she had not called any doctor to see Mr Grogan for the 10 days he had been at home before his death after being discharged from hospital after chemotherapy. The barrister claimed Ms Flaherty had also called an undertaker with 'indecent haste' and had tried to 'ensnare' a doctor in her scheme for getting the body released. There was a gasped reaction among the large crowd attending the inquest when Mr Tansey reminded the coroner that a verdict of unlawful killing was open to him. He pointed out that Mr Grogan was clearly ill in the days before his death and there was going to be 'a dreadful end' if there was no appropriate medical intervention. However, he said the only time the farmer was taken from his house during that period was to go to a registry office 'to hurriedly and secretly arrange a marriage". In his submission, Mr Jones said the most solid evidence at the inquest came from doctors who had never given a direction that Mr Grogan required palliative care as suggested by Ms Flaherty. 'Reign of secrecy' He noted an oncologist had stated the farmer's death was not inevitable and Mr Jones said it would be a travesty to suggest otherwise. The solicitor remarked that a 'reign of secrecy' had prevailed over Mr Grogan's final days, while adding that his death was not due to cancer, heart failure or any infection. However, he claimed the inquest, despite the coroner's best efforts, had not come any nearer to establishing the cause of death. Mr Jones also noted the 'cruelty' of members of the Grogan family being excluded and only being told of the farmer's death by a friend. He argued the only people who could 'get to the bottom of this' would be An Garda Síochána and a further investigation would 'satisfy public disquiet". The solicitor said Mr Grogan wanted to live and had 'everything to live for". However, counsel for Mr Flaherty, Stephen Byrne BL, claimed the inquest had been used to attack Ms Flaherty's good name and reputation. Mr Byrne said one submission had just stopped short of accusing her of causing Mr Grogan's death. He claimed the fact that gardaí had not taken any further steps to date 'must carry some weight". Sean Grogan, right and Padraig Grogan cousins of the late Joe Grogan speaking to the media pictured leaving theTullamore Coroner's Court. Photo: Colin Keegan/Collins Dublin Mr Byrne reminded the coroner that one of Mr Grogan's own relatives, Enta Conroy, had given evidence that he was fading and approaching the end of his life. He pointed out that no member of the Grogan family had contacted any doctor if they were so concerned about his health. The barrister said he struggled to find the relevance of the marriage to the inquest, while the coroner had directed that its validity was not open for discussion. He also sharply criticised the approach adopted by the Grogan family to the inquest and how they thought it fit and appropriate that Ms Flaherty should have been asked if her marriage had ever been consummated. The previous two days of evidence of the inquest had also been dominated by bad-tempered exchanges between the legal representatives after the validity of the marriage was questioned, despite a marriage certificate being produced at the hearing. There were further heated exchanges on Tuesday after Mr Tansey claimed previous evidence of Ms Flaherty which stated her relationship with the deceased started when she was 16 'puts it in the realm of being a paedophile". Ms Flaherty was heard to call the barrister a 'scumbag' in response. Offering his commiserations to all parties at the conclusion of the inquest, the coroner said it had been 'a very difficult case for everyone". Speaking afterwards, Seán Grogan said his family had just wanted to find that 'our cousin was treated properly in his dying days' after concerns were first raised when his funeral arrangements had been 'chopped and changed". Mr Tansey said the Grogans had been surprised and concerned to find out that no medical personnel had been contacted by Ms Flaherty in the 10 days before his death when it was clear he was suffering some infection from his last session of chemotherapy. The barrister said the focus 'from here on in will be the merit and circumstances of that marriage".
Telegraph
31 minutes ago
- Telegraph
Rape victims withdraw from up to three-quarters of cases
Rape victims are dropping out of up to three-quarters of cases after being put off by police and court delays, a report has found. The research, based on more than 270,000 crimes reported to police, found that on average 40 per cent dropped out before a charging decision, with many feeling that they had been forced out. The proportion rose sharply for sexual offences, with rape recording a dropout rate of 69 per cent. This increased to 74 per cent for rape in domestic abuse cases, according to the study commissioned by Claire Waxman, London's Victims' Commissioner. Victims reported being dissuaded by the police from entering the justice process and told how unlikely it was that their case would go anywhere. One victim who had been sexually assaulted was told by the police officer while reporting the attack that 'there have been cases of people being stabbed to death and we have their faces on CCTV but they still don't get a conviction, so this won't go anywhere'. There were even indications that some police officers were logging that victims had withdrawn from prosecutions without consulting with them. Ms Waxman said: 'With 77,000 cases waiting to be heard in the Crown Courts alone, it is clear the justice system is at breaking point, and it is victims who pay the price. 'In policing there are good officers who go above and beyond, those who try but are hampered by a lack of capacity and resources, and unfortunately there are officers who use victim withdrawal as an easy way of closing cases.' She called for oversight of the police in their role keeping victims engaged, urgent action to ensure victims' needs and vulnerabilities were recorded and supported and swift action to tackle the backlogs and spare victims a years-long wait for a hope of justice. The research, based on data from the Metropolitan Police, focused on crimes including arson, criminal damage, robbery, public order, violence against the person, and sexual offences. Withdrawal rates were highest when the offender was known to the victim, with a victim 2.1 times more likely to withdraw if the offender was a current or ex-partner rather than a stranger, and 1.8 times more likely when it was a friend or acquaintance. With cases being scheduled for 2029, court delays were a key factor in decisions to withdraw from cases. The research found victims are also dropping out due to the lack of available specialist support to help them navigate the system. However, an audit of 334 records, where victims had withdrawn, found 197 of them had no auditable record of the victim dropping out, such as no body-worn video, no record of an email or phone call. Ms Waxman said this tied in with reports from victims. 'One victim, when requesting information from the police sometime after reporting, was surprised to find that their case had been closed, with the reason being given that the victim withdrew, unbeknownst to them,' she said. Pippa Mills, Assistant Commissioner of the Met Police, said the force was 'relentlessly bearing down on perpetrators to secure justice for victims'. 'To improve victims' experiences, we're driving up charges for serious offences including rape and serious sexual assault, developing a new victim strategy, rolling out more training, and have launched a new online service, leaflets, and dedicated phone line to increase the frequency and quality of our communications,' she said. However, she noted that there were currently more than 100 trials already scheduled for 2029 in London, meaning 'intolerable delays for victims waiting for closure from often traumatic experiences. 'There must be a collective effort from the government, partners and the criminal justice system to reform and reverse years of decline,' she said.
BBC News
34 minutes ago
- BBC News
West Yorkshire Police officer 'tipped off' about sex offence inquiry
A woman has complained to police after an officer she made sexual offence allegations against was "tipped off" before she had given a formal woman, who cannot be named for legal reasons, made allegations of rape, drink spiking, deliberately passing on a sexual infection, coercive and controlling behaviour and harassment in 2023. She told the BBC the officer she accused had been informed about her complaint within a few hours by another West Yorkshire Police force said it had received a complaint which was being investigated by the Professional Standards Directorate. The Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) said it had carefully reviewed all of the material passed on by police but concluded there was not enough evidence to charge the suspect with any woman said she felt the investigation was flawed, adding: "I was told that because he'd been tipped off, they'd made the decision not to arrest him on Monday or seize any of his electronics because there was no element of surprise."It just didn't make any sense to me that they wouldn't take his electronics, but, ironically, throughout the process I was repeatedly asked to hand mine in or provide information off them."In an email seen by the BBC, West Yorkshire Police said the CPS needed to see accounts, notes or statements from the woman's support workers and correspondence also asks her to provide details of all previous sexual partners because "they will need to be spoken to" and asks her to consent to a full phone data download. 'A woman scorned' The woman has also criticised the language used during the investigation."I have been asked if I am a woman scorned, I have been asked what I'm normally like in bed," she said."I have pushed back about the appropriateness of how things have been dealt with and I've felt the whole way through like I've constantly had to defend myself."West Yorkshire Police said a file of available evidence had been submitted to the CPS, which reviewed it and advised no charges would be a statement, the CPS said: "We understand the importance of focusing investigations on the suspect, not the complainant, and not seeking material from complainants inappropriately.""Any material requested from the complainant was to help support her account of what had happened," a spokesperson added. The Victim Support charity has called for changes to the way allegations against officers are handled and said independence was "crucial" to Addison, its national sexual violence lead, said: "At the very least, a different police force should be investigating because it really makes that person feel they have been listened to and it's going to be investigated properly."The Survive charity, which supports victims of sexual violence, said officers must be mindful of the language used and investigations should not be focused on the complainant. "Very few survivors of sexual offences report to the police," said chief executive officer Mags Godderidge. "With those that do, it's not uncommon for them to say they found the experience retraumatising." Listen to highlights from West Yorkshire on BBC Sounds, catch up with the latest episode of Look North.
