The family of a man whose body lay undiscovered in a house in Cork for over two decades have expressed concern that the tragedy may not be an isolated incident.
An inquest in Mallow heard that skeletal remains found in a boarded up terraced house in Beecher Street in the town on January 13th last were subsequently identified as being those of the late Tim O’Sullivan.
Tim O'Sullivan was discovered under a duvet on a bed in the house by Cork County Council staff when they received reports of vermin infestation.
The court heard that Mr. O Sullivan, who was born in Cahirsiveen in Co Kerry in 1939, had died in the property on an unknown date in January 2001 and that there was no evidence of a traumatic death.
Mr. O'Sulivans siblings, who are all UK nationals, said they tried to make contact with him multiple times, visited his house which was boarded up, and made contact with Gardaí surrounding the property.
The family of Mr. O'Sullivan said that with 180,000 derelict properties in Ireland, they worry that similar cases could remain hidden.
They added that they didn't seek blame, but that more could have been done by the local authorities.
