Man dead in bed for three months

Police officers discovered Mr Barclay's body

The case of a man, 57, who lay dead in his bed for three months was a "sad reflection" on society, a coroner has said.

It was only after the owner of his rented property in Harlech, Gwynedd raised the alarm, that police discovered Ian Barclay's body.

Dolgellau Coroners Court heard how the cause of Mr Barclay's death could not be found during the post mortem test.

Coroner Dewi Pritchard Jones recorded an open verdict on Mr Barclay's death.

The coroner said: "It is a sad reflection on an uncaring society that a man was lying dead in his bed for three months and rotting away when no-one showed any concern or made any enquires about him."

Pc Eifion Jones told the coroner: "Six weeks prior to calling the police, the landlady had visited the property, but could not get a reply and thought that her tenant was out."

The woman who owned the property did not attend the inquest and her identification was not released.

Police were called to Mr Barclay's rented property in Harlech, Gwynedd in December when the landlady became concerned about arrears.

Break-in

Pc Jones said that after breaking into the property they found a mummified body in a single bedroom.

There had been a bolt on the bedroom door and it was locked from the inside.

"The property was tidy and there was a chart of the rugby world cup with television listings and reading glasses nearby," said the police officer.

"There was a calendar on the wall and the dates up to 6 September had all been marked.

"It was like everything in the property stopped on 6 September.

"There was a pile of letters and papers on the floor and a bank statement dated 14 September," he added.

There was no evidence of anyone else having been at the property situated on a large estate below the famous Harlech Castle.

Consultant pathologist Dr Anthony Caslin said he could not ascertain the cause of death.

Toxicology samples were taken and Mr Barclay was identified by DNA samples.

Mr Pritchard Jones said that because he could not confirm a cause of death he had no option but to return an open verdict.

"It is a sad reflection on our uncaring society," he said.