ONE OF the three main suspects questioned by gardaí following the suspicious death of their flatmate from a head injury is believed to be residing in the State, an inquest heard yesterday.
Slovakian national Roman Godla (32), Cabra Park, Dublin, was discovered slumped outside the railings of the ground-floor apartment where he was living by Dublin Fire Brigade personnel on September 12th, 2004, following an emergency call, Dublin City Coroner's Court heard.
He died from a brain haemorrhage caused by blunt force trauma to the head, a post-mortem by the State Pathologist, Prof Marie Cassidy, found.
"The overall pattern is suggestive that this was not an accidental trauma. However, in the absence of other information, you can't exclude that totally," she said.
Det Garda Mike Smyth of Mountjoy Garda station told the court Mr Godla's death remains a suspicious one and the case will remain open.
He said that the three suspects in the case, with whom Mr Godla had been living temporarily, had been arrested on two occasions and interviewed, but had left the jurisdiction shortly after their second arrest in December 2004, before gardaí could conduct further interviews. The coroner, Dr Brian Farrell, appealed to the individual living here or anyone who may know him to come forward and assist gardaí in their inquiries. He returned an open verdict.
Outside the court, Mr Godla's wife, Ms Monika Godlova, expressed her sorrow at her husband's death. "He was a hard-working man who loved his family - that's why he came to Ireland to make money for his family. He would do anything for his family. His death was a huge shock. I don't think I'll ever get over it. It's impossible to forget. He'll always be in my heart," she said.
Ms Godlova was due to join her husband of 18 years in Ireland days after the tragic event.