Man who died in UK originally from Delvin

A man in his 80s who died in the UK is originally from Delvin.

Yesterday, RTÉ news reported than an appeal had been issued to find the family of the man, who died in England last month.

Birmingham City Council were trying to contact relatives of the late John Joseph Gill, who had lived in the city for some years.

Mr Gill was believed to have been born on August 31, 1936. He had lived in residential and nursing homes from January 2008 and on 25 November, he died at Orchard House nursing home, RTÉ reported.

Ian Coxhead of Birmingham City Council, said they had put out an appeal on social media in a bid to trace family members.

Speaking on RTÉ's News at One, Mr Coxhead said: "I was told recently that he had no children and was never married, so we're looking for his siblings and we're trying to ensure that we meet the last wishes of John, and his family, in respect of how his funeral is dealt with.

"My experience of dealing with Irish families, and the passing of Irish people, is that, generally, family like to be involved and have on occasion taken over the funeral arrangements; if that is their wish, we would gladly assist," he said.

Birmingham City Council engaged the services of a team of genealogists to trace Mr Gill's family.

Mr Coxhead said: "It's exceptionally sad and, unfortunately, it's not an unusual story. People do lose contact with relatives through movement, decisions, and family make up and break up. But, sadly, we are unable to find family on some occasions," he said.

It had been thought that Mr Gill was from Roscommon, but on the RTÉ News at One today (Friday), December 30, probate genealogist Padraic Grennan said relatives of the deceased had been found.

Mr Grennan and colleagues at Erin Research secured the man’s birth certificate and the marriage certificate of his parents.

The latter certificate identified seven children, including Mr Gill; and two of those are still alive. Three nieces and nephews were also identified.

Mr Grennan told News at One today that he had spoken to Mr Gill’s brother in Canada yesterday and “he verified all of the information we had”.

Mr Grennan also spoke with a niece in Birmingham. “You can imagine her surprise when she discovered her uncle lived only a stone’s throw from her and she didn’t even know he was there,” he said.

He has informed Birmingham County Council, who will now officially register the man’s death.

“The death will be registered formally next Tuesday and it’s nice to be able to say there will be some family members there when he gets his final send off,” Mr Grennan said.