Grandfather died from stab wounds to body, inquest hears

Seán McCárthaigh

A grandfather who suffered fatal injuries at his home in west Dublin this summer died as a result of stab wounds to his body, an inquest has heard.

James “Jake” Berney (53), a father of two and painter of Foxdene Drive, Balgaddy, Lucan, Co Dublin died on June 26th, 2025, at Tallaght University Hospital, where he had been rushed by ambulance after the incident at his home.

At the opening of the inquest into Mr Berney’s death at Dublin District Coroner’s Court, Detective Inspector Brian Hanley applied for a six-month adjournment under Section 25 (1) of the Coroners Act 1962 on the basis that criminal proceedings are being considered in the case.

Det Insp Hanley told the coroner Aisling Gannon that a criminal investigation into Mr Berney’s death had commenced and was ongoing.

The deceased’s elderly father, Andrew Berney, who lived at the same address as the deceased, gave evidence of formally identifying his son’s body to gardaí at the Dublin City Mortuary in Whitehall.

Ms Gannon told the hearing that the results of a postmortem showed that Mr Berney had died as a result of stab wounds to the trunk.

The coroner observed that he had suffered “catastrophic injuries” arising from the stab wounds.

She granted the application for an adjournment of the inquest and fixed June 10th, 2026 as the next date for further mention of the case to hear an update on the Garda investigation.