The family of a Galway singer/songwriter – who famously wrote the lyrics to the Saw Doctors’ classic I Useta Love Her – have lashed out at the UK police investigation into his tragic death.
Paul Cunniffe fell to his death from an apartment rooftop in London back in 2001 – but his family in Tuam are still not happy with the subsequent investigation which they claim leaves a lot of unanswered questions.
Paul Cunniffe, who wrote the lyrics for I Useta Love Her when he was a teenager, was just 40 when he lost his life.
His family say that the police interviewed just two people and put it down to a tragic accident. And his brother believes that the fact that he was Irish meant that the police did not give it the attention it deserved.
An inquest into Paul’s death revealed that there was no drink, drugs or any other intoxicant in his system and his family say that it has still left them wondering if there was anything else involved.
Paul was visiting a disabled friend in an upstairs apartment and it was not unusual for residents in the apartment block to sit out on the flat rooftop. It is not known if there was anyone in Paul’s company at the time of the fall.
His brother Shaun Cunniffe, a member of Galway County Council, told The Connacht Tribune that the manner of the investigation was very unsatisfactory and did not provide any explanation as to how Paul had fallen to his death.
“My sister went over to the inquest and she couldn’t believe how routine the process was. Two people in the apartments were interviewed but nobody in neighbouring apartments which also had rooftop areas in which residents sat out,” he said.
“I know it is 15 years since the tragedy happened but there are still a lot of unanswered questions as to how Paul fell to his death. We believe that the police investigation was not given the urgency it deserved.
“It seemed as if they concluded that it was just an accident and moved on but it seems very strange that Paul would have simply fallen to his death when there were no other factors involved. Maybe it was just that he was Irish,” Shaun Cunniffe added.
Around six years ago another man lost his life in similar circumstances and at the same apartment block; that incident was also put down to a tragic accident.
It was a devastating time for Paul’s partner Jo Hardy and his three young children as well as for his family back in Tuam.
Paul was a member of the Tuam cult punk band, Blaze X, which also featured Davy Carton of the Saw Docs.
He continued to pursue his music career in London while also worked in building industry. Paul is buried alongside his parents in Tuam Cemetery.