FATAL FALL.

Press, Volume LXVII, Issue 20428, 24 December 1931, Page 3

FATAL FALL.

——♦ .... ELDERLY WOMAN'S DEATH. An inmate of Nazareth House, Mrs Johanna Moloney, of Geraldine, aged 80 years, was killed yesterday morning by a fall from a second-floor balcony. An inquest was held last evening before the Coroner, Mr H. IJ.1 J . Lawiy, who brought in the following verdict: "That Johanna Moloney died at Christchurch on December 23rd, the cause of death being injuries and slioelc, received in a fair from a balcony at Nazareth House, where she was an inmate. Safety precautions at the institution are adequate, and there is no suggestion of neglect or lack of attention on the part of the sisters in charge.'' Sergeant D. My land conducted the inquest for the police. Dr. J. H. Fahey said that at about; 8.55 a.m. yesterday he had received !i message from Nazareth House, and had gone there immediately. He had found Mrs Moloney lying on the ground in a dying condition. She was suffering from a fractured neck and fractures of the ribs and collarbone, and she had died within two minutes of his arrival. The cause of death was injurfes received 'and shock. Witness had examined her the day before, and had found that dhe was suffering from a senile and infirm mentality, although she was not par ticularly' feeble for her age. Sister Mary Thecla Loughroy, of Nazareth House, gave evidence of identification. Mrs Moloney liad been an inmate of the House for a week, and had entered in a somewhat senile'condition. Because of this condition she was given particular attention and care. That morning she had had her breakfast in bed, and had appeared quite restful; At 8.35 a.m. she was still in bed. Witness had been called away, and had been told hater that Mrs Moloney had fallen from the balcony. She was found lying on the ground directly under the balcony, and Dr. Fahey was sent for immediately. Mrs Moloney had been accommodated on the second floor, in a room with another occupant, but she had been by herself when witness gave her her breakfast. The door opening on to the balcony was locked, and she had apparently got out through the window. The balcony had the usual balustrade, but on top there was securely fixed netting to a height of nearly six feet. A chair was found on the ground near where Mrs Moloney had fallen. This chair had previously been on the balcony. She had evidently climbed over the top of the netting and fallen to the ground.