THE body of a 'caring and very well liked' hospital groundsman from Dublin was recovered from the sea near Walney wind farm two weeks after he was last seen in Ireland, an inquest has heard.

Barry McDonnell, who was 54 at the time of his death, was reported as missing by his wife Jane Doyle on September 20, 2021, after he failed to return home from his job at St John of God Hospital in Stillorgan.

His body was recovered by Barrow Lifeboat after being detected in the Irish Sea 14 miles from the coast of Barrow at Walney Wind Farm.

Cumbria Police were able to identify Mr McDonnell through an ID card in his pocket and by a tattoo on his arm that fitted the description of a missing person in Ireland.

Mr McDonnell, an avid birdwatcher, went to his GP in May 2013 after he became 'very ill, very quickly' with his mental health, according to his wife, and had attempted to take his own life.

In a statement read to the Coroner's Court, his GP said that Mr McDonnell told them how somebody at work had 'spat at him and called him a paedophile' after he had taken the child of a work colleague for a ride on a tractor.

He had subsequently 'engaged well' with mental health services and was given 'excellent support' by his wife, and made a 'good recovery',

He revealed to mental health services in July 2021 that he was not regularly taking his prescribed medication.

His wife, Jane, who described Mr McDonnell as 'gentle, caring, and sweet’ gave a statement to the court that told how in the days before his disappearance, he seemed 'worried', and was 'drinking quickly', worried that his job was under threat.

On September 20, 2021, a colleague said Mr McDonnell, a carer for his brother and elderly uncle, turned up to work, seemed uncommunicative and gave him letters to give to other colleagues that day.

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These letters, including to the hospital Chief Executive Officer Emma Balmain, all referred to rumours of sexual abuse that he strenuously denied.

Assistant Coroner for Cumbria Craig Smith, said: "None of the recipients had heard any rumours, concerns, or complaints about Barry."

He was described by a colleague at work on September 20 as being seen 'down on his haunches with his head in his hands'.

He was last seen leaving work at 3pm that day and his car was captured on camera crossing the East Link Toll Bridge at 3.15 pm.

His car was discovered on September 28 near a popular birdwatching spot, where his pair of binoculars, telescope, and tripod were found.

Mr Smith said that the lack of an eyewitness made it impossible to confirm or rule out suicide, a medical event, or a tragic accident as to why he entered the water.

A cause of death was recorded as 'immersion in water'.

Mr Smith said: "It's clear he was well thought of by work colleagues and all who knew him.

"He always made himself available to help out family and others when they needed.

"It is clear that his loss will have impacted deeply on his family and those who knew him."