A CORONER said this week that he could not rule out third party involvement in the death of a man found in the River Wye.

The body of Vincent Quinn was found close to Braemar Gardens in Hampton Park, Hereford, earlier this year.

Police investigating the death said there was “no evidence of third party involvement” but the coroner said he could not be certain after hearing that Mr Quinn had been badly beaten up a few weeks before he disappeared.

Mark Bricknell, the county coroner, told Monday’s hearing: “I think there is likely to have been a third party involvement in his death but I can’t be sure.”

In recording an open verdict, he added: “I think it is far more likely that the death was an accident because there is no reason to believe that he intended on taking his own life. He was found on January 10, but clearly had been dead for some time prior to that.”

Mr Quinn, who was 40 and from Turner Street, Portfields, Hereford, was an alcoholic and heavy drug user.

Detective Sergeant Kirsty Smith said that on December 29 she was informed that Mr Quinn’s keys and wallet had floated into a garden due to flooding.

“We believe he went into the water sometime after 12.40am on December 22, as that was when his phone was last active,” she said.

“There was no evidence of third party involvement.”

Dr Mark Hayes who carried out a postmortem on the body said that, in his opinion, death was due to fresh water drowning.

He said that the severe injuries to Mr Quinn’s feet, hands and arms occurred after his death.

Mr Quinn had sent a letter to the Stonebow Unit referring himself on December 19, but when contacted by mental health team Crisis he said he did not need help.

In the letter, Mr Quinn mentioned “getting a kicking in his flat two weeks ago” – and that he had not slept since.

“He accepted he didn’t want to harm himself and sounded upbeat,” said Grant Leach, who spoke to Mr Quinn about the letter.

“He said that he didn’t want to be a grass and couldn’t explain why he had contacted the Crisis team.”

Jane Williams, a GP at Cantilupe Surgery, said that on December 8, confirmed Mr Quinn had visited A&E at Hereford County Hospital after being assaulted.

Helen French, Mr Quinn’s ex-partner, said they had been together since 2001 but she had moved out of his house due to his drug habit.

“He would walk for miles to get alcohol or drugs and spent all his money on them,” said Miss French.

“He told me he could see ghosts in the flat. He was in a bad way and I put it down to drink and drugs.”

Miss French said that the last time she saw Vinnie was on December 19 when they spent the day together before she received a text message from Vinnie on December 21, stating: “I’m going to Brum to get stuff out of my head.”