Boater's death was suicide

A BOATER moored at High Offley on the Shropshire Union Canal had committed suicide after the death of his brother.

Members of Robert Gallacher's family alerted the police, during September last year, who were delayed in entering the boat moored close to the Anchor Inn at High Offley because of three dogs inside, Alan Tilbury reveals.

Break in

It was fellow boaters who knew the dogs, who were able to assist police break into the boat, but found that Robert Gallacher was dead, with the ambulance people being unable to do anything.

A month previously his brother had taken his own life an inquest was told, and he was grieving after the death of his brother, being deeply affected.

The inquest was told that the cause of death was he had killed himself by hanging, with tests having revealed he had consumed a high level of alcohol of nearly three times that of the legal driving limit.