Post-mortems on Mayo couple indicate murder/suicide

THE results of post-mortem examinations on the bodies of Irishtown couple Tom and Kitty Fitzgerald, who were found dead at their home on Tuesday last, indicate murder/suicide, The Connaught Telegraph has learned.

There has been no official statement by gardai on the findings of the double autopsy.

The remains of Tom (75) were discovered in the farmyard area at his home in Knockadoon, Irishtown, around 3 p.m. last Tuesday while the remains of his wife, Kitty (72), were inside the family home.

Their son, Paul, a painter decorator like his father, was found with serious head injuries and was rushed initially to University Hospital, Galway, and later to Dublin's Beaumont Hospital, Dublin, where he is said to be showing signs of improvement.

Today (Friday), in the wake of autopsies on the dead couple carried out at Mayo University Hospital, Castlebar, gardai weren't commenting on the pathology results.

Unofficially, however, it is understood the investigation team have a much clearer picture of how and when the tragedy unfolded and have ruled out any involvement on the part of Paul Fitzgerald.

Toxicology tests on the remains have formed part of the investigation.

The completion of the autopsies by Deputy State Pathologist, Dr. Michael Curtis, has cleared the way for the release of the bodies to relatives.

However, there is no indication of exactly when the funerals will take place.

Explaining the delay, one family relative said today they are hoping to hold back on the funerals until such time as Paul is fit to attend, if that's feasible.