Tragic.
Two bodies have been discovered in a home in Tipperary and Gardaí believe they may have laid there since last year.
The bodies were discovered shortly after 4pm on Monday when gardaí called to the remote property at Cloneen in south Tipperary.
Locals have said that they believed that the elderly man and woman, both aged in their late 70s, had moved away from Ireland during the pandemic.
The couple, who were originally from England, are understood to have been there for so long that dental records may be required to be able to formally identify them.
People in the area have reportedly told Gardaí that the couple have not been seen locally since 2020.
“People had thought that they had moved away from Ireland during the Covid pandemic but unfortunately this was not the case,” a source told the Irish Independent.
Concerns began to be raised when neighbours and friends had not seen the two for a while and reported this to Gardaí.
Officers were granted access to the property in Cloneen where the couple was discovered and believed that they have been dead for a long time.
Gardaí have since sealed off the scene and the State Pathologist’s Office has been notified, with both bodies remaining at the scene until an examination is conducted by the State Pathologist.
They will then be removed to University Hospital Waterford for a full post-mortem examination, with the Garda Technical Bureau also set to conduct their own examination.
Gardaí sources say that there is no initial indication that foul play was involved in their deaths as there was no sign of forced entry or disturbance in the home.
“It is a very early stage in the investigation and we are keeping an open mind. The findings of the post-mortem examination will determine precisely what we are dealing with,” the source said.
While they do not suspect any suspicious circumstances, it has not been ruled in or out at this time.
Detectives are also looking into the possibility that the deaths may have been due to a tragic accident or some medical cause.
Due to the condition of the bodies, laboratory tests may be needed to determine the cause of death.
One of the couple is also believed to have had a history of health issues and Gardaí are looking to speak with neighbours and friends to try to determine the last known sighting or if anyone had been in contact with them.
Clonmel Gardaí are appealing for anyone with information to come forward.
