A pensioner
with a string of failed marriages behind him smothered his fifth wife
with a pillow and then killed himself as he struggled to cope with
another divorce, a coroner ruled today.
Chauffeur
Terence Kirby, 72, and his wife, Myrna, 57, were found dead at their
home in Cheshunt, Hertfordshire, by their son, Freddie, at least 48
hours after their deaths.
An
inquest heart that Mr Kirby, who had suffered depression and alcohol
abuse in the months before he died, had lived apart from his wife of 30
years for two years.
Senior
Hertfordshire coroner Edward Thomas heard that Mrs Kirby, a carer and
regular churchgoer, had filed for divorce in October 2012, three months
before her and her husband's bodies were found.
Terence Kirby, 72, and his wife of 30 years, Myrna, 57, were found dead at home by their son, Freddie
Mr
Kirby was admitted to Chase Farm Hospital in Enfield for treatment for
depression. He was regularly visited by his wife, and discharged in
December 2012, two days before Christmas, to be cared for at home by his
wife and community mental health workers.
The
inquest heard that Freddie last heard from his mother on January 7
2013, and found their bodies at home four days later when he could not
reach his mother by phone.
Philippines-born
Mrs Kirby, who lived in nearby Waltham Cross, was found in bed with a
pillow over her head, while her husband was dead in another room.
A
post-mortem found low levels of alcohol in both bodies. Mr Kirby's cause
of death was given as suspension, while his wife, who was said to have
been dead 'for some time', and for longer than him, died from asphyxia
with compression of the neck.
Mr
Kirby's children questioned whether he should have been released from
hospital, and if there was enough contact from community workers.
But
health workers who visited the pair after his release reported the
couple were 'comfortable' with one another despite his continued
drinking.
Mrs Kirby had been caring for her husband at home in Cheshunt, Hertfordshire, as he battled depression
Michael
Walker, consultant psychiatrist, told the coroner at the inquest in
Hatfield that Mr Kirby was referred to him in November 2012 after
telling his GP he felt suicidal, despite having no previous mental
health problems.
'He had thoughts of hanging himself or a drug overdose, and it seemed to be because of the divorce,' he said.
'He
was drinking at a harmful level, much more than is recommended, and he
was felt to be a risk. He talked about a rope and knives.'
After
Mr Kirby had been admitted to hospital, his wife told his doctors 'she
could be scared of him when he shouted at her when he was drinking
alcohol', the coroner said.
Mr
Thomas added: 'She said that there had been ups and downs, and he could
become very abusive and call her names, but they would get back
together because she loved him.'
Mr Kirby's mood improved and he was discharged two days before Christmas, the inquest heard.
Between then
and January 5, health crisis workers spoke to the Kirbys on several
occasions, both over the telephone and during home visits.
Suzanne
Bernardi, community psychiatric nurse, told the inquest Mrs Kirby had
called on Boxing Day to say she had resisted her husband's request for
more alcohol.
Regular
contact was made over the next few days, and Mr Kirby was last visited
by a member of the crisis team on January 5. On January 8, the team made
a cold call but could not get a response from the house.
Two
days later another visit was made but got no response, so on the
afternoon of January 11 the police were asked to make a welfare check,
shortly before Freddie discovered the bodies of his parents.
Members
of the family criticised the procedures followed by the crisis team,
accusing them of 'gross incompetence' in managing the situation.
Mrs Kirby seems to have been very caring; he had a crisis, and they had marital difficulties over the years
The couple's daughter, whose name was not given, said: 'The crisis team is called that for a reason.'
Hertfordshire
Police found no evidence of any disturbance and neighbours didn't
report hearing any loud arguments or aggression in the lead up to their
deaths.
Coroner
Mr Thomas said: 'Mrs Kirby seems to have been very caring, he had a
crisis and they had marital difficulties over the years.
'Clearly
there was the impact on him of another failed relationship... What he
had intimated was he did not want to get divorced.
'We
will never know what actually happened on the day that she died, but we
do know she had concerns about his drinking and he had a quantity of
alcohol in his blood.'
He recorded a verdict that Mrs Kirby was unlawfully killed and Mr Kirby committed suicide afterwards.
'I
think that he realised the enormity and sadness of what he had done, to
someone who had actually been very supportive and come back to help him
in a time of crisis,' said Mr Thomas.
For
confidential support in the UK, contact the Samaritans on 08457 90 90
90 or visit a local Samaritans branch or www.samaritans.org
DAILYMAIL.CO.UK
Terence Kirby, 72, and his wife of 30 years, Myrna, 57, were found dead at home by their son, Freddie
The
inquest heard that Freddie last heard from his mother on January 7
2013, and found their bodies at home four days later when he could not
reach his mother by phone.
Philippines-born
Mrs Kirby, who lived in nearby Waltham Cross, was found in bed with a
pillow over her head, while her husband was dead in another room.
A
post-mortem found low levels of alcohol in both bodies. Mr Kirby's cause
of death was given as suspension, while his wife, who was said to have
been dead 'for some time', and for longer than him, died from asphyxia
with compression of the neck.
Mr
Kirby's children questioned whether he should have been released from
hospital, and if there was enough contact from community workers.
But
health workers who visited the pair after his release reported the
couple were 'comfortable' with one another despite his continued
drinking.
Mrs Kirby had been caring for her husband at home in Cheshunt, Hertfordshire, as he battled depression
Michael
Walker, consultant psychiatrist, told the coroner at the inquest in
Hatfield that Mr Kirby was referred to him in November 2012 after
telling his GP he felt suicidal, despite having no previous mental
health problems.
'He had thoughts of hanging himself or a drug overdose, and it seemed to be because of the divorce,' he said.
'He
was drinking at a harmful level, much more than is recommended, and he
was felt to be a risk. He talked about a rope and knives.'
After
Mr Kirby had been admitted to hospital, his wife told his doctors 'she
could be scared of him when he shouted at her when he was drinking
alcohol', the coroner said.
Mr
Thomas added: 'She said that there had been ups and downs, and he could
become very abusive and call her names, but they would get back
together because she loved him.'
Mr Kirby's mood improved and he was discharged two days before Christmas, the inquest heard.
Between then
and January 5, health crisis workers spoke to the Kirbys on several
occasions, both over the telephone and during home visits.
Suzanne
Bernardi, community psychiatric nurse, told the inquest Mrs Kirby had
called on Boxing Day to say she had resisted her husband's request for
more alcohol.
Regular
contact was made over the next few days, and Mr Kirby was last visited
by a member of the crisis team on January 5. On January 8, the team made
a cold call but could not get a response from the house.
Two
days later another visit was made but got no response, so on the
afternoon of January 11 the police were asked to make a welfare check,
shortly before Freddie discovered the bodies of his parents.
Members
of the family criticised the procedures followed by the crisis team,
accusing them of 'gross incompetence' in managing the situation.
Mrs Kirby seems to have been very caring; he had a crisis, and they had marital difficulties over the years
The couple's daughter, whose name was not given, said: 'The crisis team is called that for a reason.'
Hertfordshire
Police found no evidence of any disturbance and neighbours didn't
report hearing any loud arguments or aggression in the lead up to their
deaths.
Coroner
Mr Thomas said: 'Mrs Kirby seems to have been very caring, he had a
crisis and they had marital difficulties over the years.
'Clearly
there was the impact on him of another failed relationship... What he
had intimated was he did not want to get divorced.
'We
will never know what actually happened on the day that she died, but we
do know she had concerns about his drinking and he had a quantity of
alcohol in his blood.'
He recorded a verdict that Mrs Kirby was unlawfully killed and Mr Kirby committed suicide afterwards.
'I
think that he realised the enormity and sadness of what he had done, to
someone who had actually been very supportive and come back to help him
in a time of crisis,' said Mr Thomas.
For
confidential support in the UK, contact the Samaritans on 08457 90 90
90 or visit a local Samaritans branch or www.samaritans.org
DAILYMAIL.CO.UK
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