Couple Found Dead by Suicide Left Note Outside Their Home

An elderly couple reportedly left a note and tape recordings before dying by suicide after one of them was suffering from terminal cancer, authorities said.

The determination came after an official investigation into the deaths of Tony and Phyllis Gilbert, both 83, who were found dead in their home in Kenmare, Ireland on the morning of Nov. 14, 2021, according to The Irish Times, Irish Examiner and RTE.

The police were called after their daughter-in-law, Beryl Gilbert, found a note on their door when she came by after shopping for the couple. Per the Examiner and Irish Mirror, the note said, “All going to plan we should be dead.” It also asked the reader to call the gardaí, also known as the national police and security service of Ireland.

Per the reports, Gda James Hendricks told Kerry County Coroner’s Court during the inquest that Tony and Phyllis were found lying on separate beds in the same bedroom. Showing no signs of restraint, they were reportedly not breathing and had pale skin. A local doctor then pronounced them dead at the scene.

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Upon examination, Chief State Pathologist Professor Linda Mulligan told the inquest that the couple died by poisoning. Per the Times, she also determined that Phyllis had stage 4 pancreatic cancer while Tony had ischaemic heart disease.

PEOPLE has contacted the Tralee District Court and the national police and security service of Ireland and Kerry Coroner’s Court for comment.

Both Hendricks and Kerry Coroner Aisling Quilter said a tape recorder was also found inside the home with two recordings of the husband and wife’s voices. “We have been together in life and now we are together in sleep,” Tony was heard saying, per the Examiner and the Times. Though, a full transcript of his audio was not released.

Per the RTE, the inquest revealed that a second recording had been formed at “various different stages” and conveyed that the couple decided to end their lives due Phyllis’ declining health. The outlet also reported that Phyllis had suffered from “a couple of strokes” while her husband was her primary caregiver.

Both Beryl and the couple’s granddaughter, Felicity Gilbert, confirmed that Phyllis’ health had been deteriorating in the time leading up to their deaths. Authorities were also told that Tony and Phyllis had become “quite reclusive” following the COVID-19 pandemic, per the Times.

Quilter told the inquest that the couple had made arrangements before their deaths, the RTE reported, while the Times noted that Tony and Phyllis med with their solicitor, Vincent Coakley, in order to make a will days before their bodies were found.

According to the reports, Quilter ruled their deaths as being cases of suicide before extending her condolences to their family. Additionally, Sgt Aoife Dolan of Killarney Garda Station offered her condolences on behalf of the local police.

While describing her grandparents, Felicity said Tony and Phyllis were “as close as you can be companionship wise,” the Examiner and Mirror reported.  

If you or someone you know is considering suicide, please contact the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 1-800-273-TALK (8255), text “STRENGTH” to the Crisis Text Line at 741-741 or go to suicidepreventionlifeline.org.