Christmas appeal after inquest hears man lay dead for months.

A charity has urged people to look out for their neighbours this Christmas after an inquest heard a West Cork man may have lain dead for up to five months before his body was discovered.

Sean Moynihan, CEO of Alone, urged communities to rekindle the connection that was in place decades ago to provide a support network for those who are lonely or isolated.

He was speaking following an inquest into the death of Mark Watters (61), a reclusive theatre producer who was found dead at his apartment in Castletownbere on May 9th 2024.

At his inquest in Bantry his sister, Virginia Watters, told coroner Frank O’Connell that her brother had moved to West Cork in 2000 but he had become a recluse and developed an alcohol addiction. She said she had last spoke to him in March 2023 when he rang her.

Gda Damian O’Sullivan told the coroner gardaí were contacted by Cork County Council on May 9th 2024 as Mr Watters had failed to collect several social welfare payments.

When he and another garda called to the apartment at the Courtyard they were unable to get a response and forced entry.

They found Mr Watters’ remains lying in the hallway by the bathroom.

The inquest heard gardaí found unopened Christmas cards at his home and enquiries established that the last confirmed activity by Mr Watters was on December 15th 2023 when he made a top-up payment from his bank account to his electricity supplier.

Gardaí had no sightings of Mr Watters or any other activity to indicate he was alive after that date.

Assistant State Pathologist Dr Margot Bolster carried out a post-mortem at the Cork City Mortuary at CUH on May 10th 2024.

She said the remains were consistent with him having died in December 2023.

Coroner Frank O’Connell returned a verdict of death due to natural causes.

‘He was perfectly entitled to keep himself to himself, that was his right and his entitlement, but it certainly is a very sad case,’ added Mr Connell.

Sean Moynihan of Alone, which supports older people, said extreme cases like Mr Watters’ highlights the issue of isolation.

‘It’s a tragedy for them and their families and it doesn’t mean that anyone in the community has done anything wrong. A lot of factors can lead to loneliness and isolation,’ he said.

‘We have to put effort into connection which might have been there 20 or 30 years before. There is medical evidence that loneliness will shorten your life.’

Alone will deliver 2,500 dinners nationwide to people on their own on Christmas Day ‘bringing a message that you matter and you are not forgotten.’