The inquest into the death of a 42-year-old Kilkenny grandmother heard that the woman died from internal bleeding after she placed a home-made shower head inside her.
Lorraine White of Upper Bridge Street, Callan, was found in the bathroom by her partner after she collapsed on March 8 2008.
The inquest heard that Ms White died from injuries to her uterus and abdomen which the inquest heard were caused by a 10-inch copper pipe.
Ms White was rushed to St Luke’s Hospital in Kilkenny where she underwent surgery. However she was pronounced dead six hours after being admitted to hospital.
Kilkenny coroner Tim Kiely heard that Ms White had told nurses she was having a shower and that she had put the shower head “in her front passage with the water running for some time.”
Ms White’s partner, Walter Morrissey, told the court Ms White was taking a shower that night when he heard a noise from upstairs. Mr Morrissey said the bathroom door wouldn’t open properly and that Ms White was lying naked on the floor with her head against the door. He said she told him she “slipped and fell”.
Following the incident a Garda investigation was carried out into her death and this was concluded earlier this year. A man was arrested in March 2008 in connection with her death and a file was sent to the Director of Public Prosecutions, however no charges were brought forward.
A jury of six returned a verdict of death by misadventure.
