John Sweetman

She was four months in arrears on her mortgage, and her apartment had also flooded.

Frank had loaned her 6,000 euro, but she still owed a lot more.

But when he questioned why she had admitted herself into psychiatric care again, it was still a shock to hear her words.

You do not know what I've done.

She then told him about a noose on a bookcase in her apartment.

During the six weeks in hospital, Elaine kept up her job at the newsagents on weekends and took day leave.

She attended that training day for the tall ships, made plans for the volunteer days with Sheila and arranged her next few shifts at the newsagents.

The day before her discharge, her doctor noted that she was in cheerful form, spontaneous, smiling, alert, and seemed really happy.

She was excited about working with the Tallships.

Around midday on Wednesday, August 22nd, Elaine checked herself out of St.

Edmundsbury's and went to the pharmacy to fill 11 prescriptions to get her through the next month.

Medication for diabetes, cholesterol and asthma, stomach and bowel problems, insomnia, anxiety and depression.

As was often the case, she didn't have the money on her but she promised the chemist that she would be back as soon as her next payday came in.

She then went to Killiney to visit her father Frank who was looking after her little niece.

They all went together to the Shangana Cemetery.

On the way, Elaine called the newsagents to check on her shifts after the festival and was busily texting on her phone.

Frank wanted to make the most of their day together and at one point he told her to put the phone away for a while.

Around 3pm, they all went back to Frank's and had ice cream and Elaine took her niece for a walk.

At 4pm, Elaine left the house and according to Frank was in good form.

She was going to get a decent night's sleep as Sheila was meeting her early the following morning to start at the festival.