Age: 42
Sex: male
Date: 13 May 1983
Place: 9 Grade Towers, Hemel Hempstead
Michael Keenan was found dead at his flat at 9 Grade Towers, Hemel Hempstead, covered in blood on 4 May 1983.
He was spattered with blood from a broken nose.
His caus of death was given as haemorrhage under the brain due to a head injury.
Michael Keenan had been an alcoholic, however, tests for alcohol in his blood at the time were negative. It was noted that he had been discharged from the army because of his chronic drink problem.
His stepmother last saw him alive on 3 May 1983 when she visited his flat. She said that he had been drinking, but not as much as usual. However, she said that he looked unwell and tried to call his doctor, but he was not available. She said that when she went back with the doctor the follwing day they douns him there dead.
The doctor noted that Michael Keenan's alcoholism had sdtayed with him after his army discharge and that he had had two spells of treatment at Hill End Hospital for it.
One theory put forward at his inquest was that he had felt ill whilst in bed at his flat and banged his head against a wall and then collapsed.
However, the Coroner noted that there was no clear evidence to show how Michael Keenan came by his injury and an open verdict was returned.
see www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk
see Hemel Hempstead Gazette - Friday 13 May 1983