Cork house where tragic woman lay dead for over a year goes on market for €300k

Elmsleigh, a three-bedroom semidetached two-storey house in the Brookfield Lawn estate near the Lough on Cork’s southside, was put on the market by Barry Auctioneers and Valuers earlier today.

The auctioneer notes: “This two-storey property requires full refurbishment as it is now a blank canvas, giving any potential purchaser an opportunity to put their own personal stamp on the property with regards to interior décor.

“Elmsleigh is sure to appeal to a broad spectrum of purchasers with a host of amenities within convenient walking distance including schools, Cork University Hospital, University College Cork, shops and bars as well as Cork city centre itself.

“With a prime location and beautiful views at first floor level, viewing comes highly recommended to appreciate what this fine property has to offer.

The discovery of the body of 58-year-old Joyce O’Mahony in the property six weeks ago caused widespread shock in the quiet estate and across the county.

Ms O’Mahony’s body was discovered by a man working for a pest control firm.

He spotted Ms O’Mahony’s body in a downstairs back room and contacted the emergency services.

Ms O’Mahony was pronounced dead by a local GP and gardaí were satisfied from their examination that there was no sign of injury or forced entry to the house to suggest foul play.

Ms. O’Mahony was described locally as a kind but very private person.

Some residents believed the woman had moved away from the area temporarily following a family bereavement.

The garden of the property was badly overgrown and locals were shocked by the revelation she had lain deceased in the property for so long a time.

Ms. O’Mahony was survived by a sister and two brothers.

Locals described Ms O’Mahony as very private, only emerging at night to go to the local shop for groceries.

Ms. O’Mahony was predeceased by her father Dr Thomas J O’Mahony who had a very successful and large GP surgery in The Lough prior to his death in 2010.

Her mother Patricia, who was known as Patsy, was known locally in The Lough as a stylish, generous and very musical person.

She passed away in a nursing home in January 2021.

Door-to-door inquiries in the estate revealed that Joyce O’Mahony was last seen out and about sometime in 2021 but gardai believe she may have been alive for at least another year after that.

Gardaí established she was alive in mid-November 2022 from items found in the house – putting an early estimate of her time of death at approximately 19 months before her remains were discovered.

Speaking at the time, local Independent Cllr Mick Finn said: ““I know anecdotally the woman is supposed to have kept very much to herself, but it underlines for me the importance of people checking on their elderly or vulnerable neighbours.”