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12th Feb 2022

A man’s mummified body has been found in a Dublin flat

It's believed his body may have gone unnoticed for over a year

Rebecca Keane

A man has been found in what’s being reported as a mummified state in Ballsbridge, south Dublin.

According to The Irish Times, father-of-one Ian Rowand had been separated from his wife for more than 12 years and lived alone in his basement flat on Waterloo Road.

Gardaí had been reportedly trying to get in touch with the retired engineer for more than a year in relation to paying fines he owed.

Ian and his wife, Mary, had not spoken for eight years. Mary Rowand co-operated with Gardaí in trying to contact the Dublin man, meeting the police at her ex-husband’s address in January 2015. Gardaí continued to try to make contact with Ian over the next year and a half.

Authorities became concerned when cobwebs were visible on Mr. Rowand’s windows and his potted plants outside the residence had withered and died.

Gardaí finally entered the flat with the help of a locksmith and found the remains of the body, mummified. They found Mr Rowand’s body in his bedroom, with Garda Matthew Tracey of Donnybrook Garda station confirming the news: “The body was found in the bedroom, dressed in pyjamas in a crouched position.”

Other items found in Mr Rowand’s residence was a carton of milk dated best before January 2014, showing that the body had been decaying for a long time.

The autopsy carried out on Mr Rowand’s body revealed no signs of disease or trauma that could’ve caused death, and an open verdict was recorded.

Topics:

Dublin,news