Irish alert as son 'flees with mother's body'

Authorities in Ireland said they believed the man, in his 60s and from the south of England, had been living in Kenmare, Co Kerry, for the last two years.

The county coroner warned that he must bury or cremate his mother, who died in September.

A Garda spokesman said police officers were made aware after October 14 that the man had been living in a rented house in the town with his mother's body.

"The man was found in his house with his mother," the Garda spokesman said. "Both gardai and the Coroner's Office liaised with him and spoke with him. There was an undertaking given to bury his mother."

The dead woman was in her 90s and had been in Malta when she was taken ill and died from pneumonia on September 24.

Acting Kerry South County Coroner Terence Casey said her son flew her body back from Malta to London's Gatwick Airport, put the coffin in a car and drove to Ireland.

Mr Casey said the body was not declared at Customs in Ireland. The Coroner's Office was contacted about the woman's remains being kept in a rented house on the same day as the Garda were notified.

Mr Casey said the man had previously told his landlord he was leaving the house in Kenmare as his mother was ill in Malta. It is understood that Irish authorities do not believe the man has committed a criminal offence.