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Open verdict on girl found drowned in bathroom  THE
FATHER of a 16-year-old schoolgirl shed tears as an inquest heard evidence
about how she died as a result of drowning at the family’s home
in Co. Kilkenny.
College lecturer Gerard Gibbs tried to resuscitate daughter Ciara after
he found her lying on the floor of an en suite bathroom with her pyjamas
top wet and the bottoms dry.
But her body was cold and she was later pronounced dead at the scene.
The events of November 26, 2006 were recalled at the inquest into Ciara’s
death where a jury returned an open verdict that she died as a result
of drowning.
Ciara Gibbs died in an upstairs en suite bathroom at the family home at
Killure in Goresbridge, Co. Kilkenny.
A statement by family friend, psychiatrist Dr Marese Cheasty, revealed
she had visited Ciara Gibbs and her mother Lynn on the evening of November
25.
She said Lynn was depressed and worried about the anorexia she feared
Ciara was suffering from.
A statement from Gerard Gibbs said he had returned from visiting his mother
to find Ciara in the bathroom with his wife lying nearby.
State Pathologist Dr Marie Cassidy said a post mortem examination found
a number of small bruises and marks which could have been caused by a
struggle if her head was being kept under water in the bath.
It was her opinion Ciara died as a result of drowning.
Last month 47-year-old Lynn Gibbs was found not guilty of murder by reason
of insanity at the Central Criminal Court and transferred to the Central
Mental Hospital in Dundrum.
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