Tralee, Co Kerry – An inquest has heard that an elderly couple, both aged 83, died by suicide at their home in Kenmare in November 2021. The couple, Tony and Phyllis Gilbert, had lived in Kerry since the 1990s after moving from the UK, where they had once run a successful glass engraving business.
The bodies of the pair were discovered in their bungalow at Dromneavane shortly after 10 a.m. on November 14th, 2021. Gardaí responding to the scene found a note at the door stating that if “all had gone to plan,” both would be dead inside.
Coroner Aisling Quilter noted that a tape recorder was discovered at the scene containing two recordings of the couple’s voices. In one, Tony Gilbert said that he and his wife had been “together in life” and intended to be “together in sleep.”
The inquest was told that Phyllis Gilbert had been suffering from stage four pancreatic cancer, which had spread throughout her body. The couple’s granddaughter, Felicity Gilbert, described them as being “as close as you can be companionship-wise,” adding that they had become increasingly reclusive during the Covid-19 pandemic due to health concerns.
Evidence was also heard from solicitor Vincent Coakley, who said Tony Gilbert had contacted him in October 2021 to arrange wills for himself and his wife. Although hesitant to meet in person due to fears of infection, the couple signed their wills at his office on November 10th, just four days before their deaths. Mr Coakley confirmed that both were mentally competent at the time, and that there had been no duress.
Garda James Hendricks told the inquest that when officers entered the home, they found the couple in separate beds with no signs of external injury. A post-mortem examination by Chief State Pathologist Dr. Linda Mulligan confirmed that both had ingested a poisonous substance, leading to their deaths. Dr Mulligan reassured family members that death would have occurred quickly.
Returning a verdict of suicide in both cases, Coroner Quilter said it was clear the couple had made detailed preparations. She offered her “heartfelt condolences” to their family, describing it as “a traumatic case.”
Sgt. Aoife Dolan also extended condolences on behalf of Gardaí, acknowledging the profound difficulty of losing both Tony and Phyllis together.
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