A LLANDYUSUL man with a degenerative disease took his own life, an inquest has heard.

Darrel Griffiths, aged 66, from Cross Inn, Llandysul, was found hanged with a head wound and a captive bolt pistol next to him in a garage at his home on the night of August 21 last year, the inquest at Aberystwyth Justice Centre was told.

A statement from his wife Janet, who ran a dog breeding business from the family home, said the couple had been married for 45 years and that six years ago Mr Griffiths had been diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease, which had progressively got worse.

In her statement, she said: “Three years ago, the illness was causing a lot of depression and everyday functions became difficult.

“It was around then that he stated he might end his life rather than live as he was. Two years ago he went to Brechfa Forest. He took a captive bolt gun and considered ending his life. The gun was removed from the house and I was not aware he had access to the gun.”

Mrs Griffiths said her husband’s condition continued to deteriorate – his speech was affected and he struggled to walk any distance - and he had been recently diagnosed with supranuclear palsy.

“In the last month Darrel was as worse as he had ever been,” she said. “He was very ill and depressed and I think the diagnosis was more than he could bear.”

Ceredigion coroner Peter Brunton said there had originally been concerns when the bolt pistol had been found with Mr Griffiths’ body but he was satisfied that the evidence showed he had hung himself and pulled the trigger ‘almost simultaneously’.

“He took considerable trouble to write a note. His handwriting was deeply affected by his condition and it leaves me in no doubt that he intended to take these actions,” said Mr Brunton, who recorded a verdict of suicide.

“The history of the disease makes hard and distressing reading and the last years must have been very difficult indeed.

“Life was insupportable towards the end and it is not surprising he took the steps he did. I offer my profound sympathies to the family. No matter how much we expect death, nevertheless when it occurs it strikes with a very hard edge and is a very hard blow.”

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