Lord of the Dance
Death of Dublin pensioner Thomas Kennedy remains a mystery
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Death of Dublin pensioner Thomas Kennedy remains a mystery

AN INQUEST into the death of tragic Dublin pensioner Thomas Kennedy has shed no further light on how he died.

Yesterday morning (May 7) Blackpool coroner Alan Wilson recorded an open verdict in the case, meaning doubt remains as to how the death of the 81-year-old came about.

Mr Kennedy was last seen alive in July 2014, when he was spotted putting the bins out in front of his Finglas home.

When his grandson returned to the house some time later, he grew concerned when there was no sign of his grandfather – so he alerted other family members.

A massive search was launched, between the Gardaí and the general public, but his disappearance remained a mystery until three weeks later - when a body was discovered off the coast of Blackpool.

It was February 2015 before the body was finally identified of that as Mr Kennedy, almost seven months after his death.

His remains lay in a morgue in Blackpool before clothing on the body led police to believe the deceased may have come from Ireland.

Following the identification of Mr Kennedy’s remains, he was flown home to Ireland where his grieving family laid him to rest.

This week's inquest shed no further light on how Mr Kennedy died, or why he remained unidentified for such an extended period of time.