A woman from Ireland, who was tragically found dead on a beach in the UK 300 miles from her home, died by suicide, an inquest has revealed.
Margaret Barber, a 67-year-old community centre manager, was reported missing from her home in Mount Merrion, Dublin, on the morning of 8 August, 2024.
Her body was discovered by a member of the public in Cumbria on 30 August, and her inquest was held in Cockermouth, UK, earlier this week.
Her husband, Donal Kavanagh, provided a statement at the inquest, revealing that his wife had been diagnosed with depression in 2011 and was prescribed medication for it.
However, unbeknownst to her doctor, she had stopped picking up her prescription for the antidepressant venlafaxine between February and July.
Margaret’s body was discovered off the coast of Cumbria ( neilkendall/Getty Stock photo)
Mr. Kavanagh shared that his wife had been in high spirits in the days leading up to her disappearance. He reported her missing after she left for what he believed was an early morning stroll on August 8 and failed to return by that evening. This prompted local emergency rescue teams to spring into action.
The Garda Síochána—Ireland’s national police and security service—issued a public appeal to assist in locating her. However, the appeal was withdrawn in September after her body was discovered, with dental records used to confirm her identity.
A toxicology report was carried out, revealing no significant findings. It was presumed that she had succumbed to drowning.
Tragically, the coroner at the inquest held on Thursday, March 20, concluded that her death was a result of suicide.
Assistant coroner Margaret Taylor stated: “We know that Margaret had gone to the beach and entered the water. Sadly, this is not an uncommon occurrence. Bodies are typically found either at Walney Island or Workington if they have entered the water in Ireland.”
An inquest determined that Margaret died by suicide (Garda Press Office)
“I have to conclude that Margaret’s death was a suicide,” the coroner stated.
“Depression likely played a significant role in her actions, but they do seem to have been deliberate that morning.”
Although Mr. Kavanagh suggested that Margaret had been in good spirits just before her death, she had also gone through a “completely unexpected” difficult period where “her mood had dropped and she felt very low.”
The coroner also pointed out that individuals experiencing depression can sometimes feel “very calm” after making a distressing decision, which may explain her seemingly good mood the evening before her death.
