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Woman found under mountain of shopping
28 Jul 2009A shopaholic pensioner's body was discovered underneath a mountain of clothes after she collapsed and died at her home, an inquest heard today.
Joan Cunnane's bungalow was so crammed full of shopping that it took five searches of the property before her body was discovered.
The 77-year-old spinster refused to let friends into the house, her friend Roy Moran told the inquest at Stockport Magistrates Court.
He said she went shopping to escape the youths who once plagued her home but it got out of hand.
Mr Moran said: "I think she realised it was getting out of control and she needed an input but she was very stubborn about it and wouldn't make a decision.
"She said it gave her pleasure to buy things, she only bought things she really liked."
Mr Moran, 77, told the court that he last saw his friend on Christmas Day last year.
The pair had lunch together at a local Baptist church in Stockport, Greater Manchester, before returning to his home in Cheadle Hulme.
Mr Moran said she refused his offer to stay, despite the fact she was unwell and the weather was poor, and drove home at around 11pm.
He said: "She lived alone. Her home was her sanctuary, always immaculate and in the last few years she wouldn't let anyone into the property."
Mr Moran called her twice in the following days and, concerned at the lack of response, visited her bungalow in Rosgill Close, Heaton Mersey, on Monday 29 December.
Coroner John Pollard, reading from Mr Moran's statement, said: "The side door was ajar and with some difficulty because of the items stacked behind it he was able to open it slightly and slip through the gap.
"The interior of premises was stacked from floor to ceiling with general bric-a-brac. He couldn't see her anywhere and got no response."
Mr Moran told the court: "Joan was a very private person and had a very calm disposition and I would never have imagined her house was in that state.
"She never really discussed it... I think she reached the conclusion that she had to do something and unfortunately it was too late."
Mr Moran said he visited Miss Cunnane's house on three occasions without seeing her and even went to Wythenshawe Hospital on January 5 in the hope she would turn up for her appointment.
Concerned neighbours called police the next day, but an initial search of the bungalow was unsuccessful due to "the large amount of personal property and papers within", Detective Inspector Kevin Dolan said in a statement read to the court.
Police returned to the bungalow on January 7 with a truck and a skip to clear out the bungalow and conduct a second search.
Det Insp Dolan said the body was discovered in a bedroom "under a substantial pile of clothing and other items".
Pathologist Philip Lumb said Miss Cunnane died as a result of bronchial pneumonia, and also had cancer.
The coroner recorded a verdict of death by natural causes. He said: "What seems to have happened is that Miss Cunnane was obviously ill with a chest infection which developed into bronchial pneumonia.
"Her condition became worse, I suspect she has probably collapsed and various items have fallen on her. There's no evidence to suggest those items contributed to her death."
Mr Moran, speaking outside court, said Miss Cunnane began shopping about 16 years ago to escape youths who threw stones at her windows and broke her garden furniture.
He said: "I think she started going out in the morning and coming back late at night and that gradually built up into an obsession with buying things.
"It was unbelievable, things were stacked up to the ceiling and there were rows of things neatly stacked."
Mr Moran said Miss Cunnane was keen on the Antiques Roadshow and only bought "attractive things", such as pretty vases.
He said his friend, a devout Catholic who attended St Winifred's Church in Heaton Moor for 70 years, spent 40 years working as a BT administrator and relished the freedom retirement gave her.
He said: "She was going to do a lot of things she had never done, she spent her time enjoying herself."
Reader views (2)
As landlord over the years that have had this intense hoarding type of person in many flats; they are not aware of their own predicament much like any other habit-in-denial.
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One tenant was so poorly with bronchitis and malnutirtion etc, that when my mother brought several times, soup and bread to him, on his bed; he was so surprised by her kindness that when he got over his ill heath, he left the flat.
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A good thing for him as it meant a partial healing in his fear of the world.
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It took me a week to empty all the stuff out.
cheers.
R
- Rebeccaofsunnybrookfarm, Westminster, 29/07/2009 02:00
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poor old soul.Not much to look forward to in old age .And the young punks today are going to make good citzens for tomorrow .(How many brain cells does it take to smash an old ladys things )Rest In peace
- Gazza, Australia, 29/07/2009 01:59
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