A 42-YEAR-old grandmother died from internal bleeding after she placed a home-made shower head inside her, an inquest heard yesterday.

Kilkenny Coroner’s Court heard that Lorraine White of Upper Bridge Street, Callan, Co Kilkenny, died in hospital after collapsing in her bathroom from injuries to her uterus and abdomen caused by a 10-inch copper pipe.

The court heard that Ms White died in surgery, six hours after being admitted to St Luke’s Hospital, Kilkenny, on March 8th, 2008.

A Garda investigation into her death concluded earlier this year. One man was arrested in March 2008 in connection with her death, a file was sent to the Director of Public Prosecutions and no charges were brought.

Coroner Tim Kiely yesterday heard that Ms White had told nurses she was having a shower and that she had put the shower head “in her front passage with the water running for some time”.

Ms White’s partner, Walter Morrissey, told the court Ms White was taking a shower that night when he heard a noise from upstairs. Mr Morrissey said the bathroom door wouldn’t open properly and that Ms White was lying naked on the floor with her head against the door. He said she told him she “slipped and fell”.

A jury of six returned a verdict of death by misadventure.