Two elderly individuals, identified as Tony and Phyllis Gilbert, both 83 years old, were discovered deceased at their residence in Kenmare, Co Kerry. Their daughter-in-law, Beryl Gilbert, found them and reported that they had left a chilling note on the front door of their home. The couple had recently signed their wills just days before their death, as confirmed during the Tralee District Court proceedings.
Mrs. Gilbert was battling stage four pancreatic cancer, and post-mortem results indicated that both individuals had ingested a toxic substance. The note left on the door contained only eight words, stating their intentions. The police arrived at the scene after being directed by the note and found the bodies of Mr. and Mrs. Gilbert in their bedroom, with no signs of physical harm noted.
During the inquest, it was revealed that the couple had made arrangements with a solicitor, Vincent Coakley, to draft their wills due to concerns about their health. They visited the solicitor’s office on November 10 to sign the documents, with witnesses attesting to their mental capacity. Medical examinations confirmed that the couple had indeed ingested a poisonous substance, leading to their demise.
Dr. Linda Mulligan, the Chief State Pathologist, determined that the couple would have passed away swiftly after ingesting the toxic substance. Mrs. Gilbert, who had advanced pancreatic cancer, had the disease spread throughout her body. The coroner ruled the cause of death as suicide, highlighting the meticulous planning evident in the couple’s actions.