The tragic husband of Donegal "died trying to save an elderly woman who fell and hit her head"

A tragic husband died trying to save his fragile wife who had fallen yesterday and who had hit her head in the bedroom of their home.

The lifeless bodies of elderly couple Patrick and Margaret Doherty were found by the couple's niece in their home in Convoy, eastern Donegal.

Margaret's devastated nephew, Liam Doherty, told the Irish Mirror that it looked like her aunt, 70, had fallen and hit her head.

"There is nothing at the moment indicating anything suspicious. It seems that Margaret had a fall and perhaps hit the head of a chest of drawers.

"Pat was in the bedroom, I think Pat went up to help him and he also dropped."

A source from Garda said that there was no sign of trauma to the couple and that there was no sign of break-in in the bleached terrace house at lime on the outskirts of the village.

They added, "We obviously need to look at all the possible causes of death, but at this point, it does not appear that there has been any break-in or any sign of trauma.

"The results of the autopsies will determine the direction that any future investigation will take."

Sinn Fein Councilor Doherty said the news was a shock to the family and the community.

He added that his sister had found their bodies in the bedroom.

"My sister, Pat and Margaret's niece called to see them and found them, they live nearby and we monitor them regularly.

"I only called them yesterday and I left them the newspapers."

The devastated nephew said the couple was fragile.

"I would not say that they were healthy, they were frail and were between 70 and 80 years old."

The couple returned to the area about 15 years ago after living in the UK, where Pat worked in the construction industry.

Margaret was from Galway and has a sister who still lives there.

Mr Doherty said the couple were happy and retired to the city.

He told the Irish Mirror: "It was a very modest couple who remained isolated, married and happy, and had no children.

"It's just a huge shock for everyone who knew them."

The house was locked and a full forensic investigation was conducted by Gardai.

Donegal County Medical Examiner Dr. Denis McCauley also attended the scene.

The bodies have been removed from the house and autopsies are being held at Letterkenny University Hospital.

The Garda investigation will be determined by the findings of the autopsies.