THE former landlord of a notorious Leeds pub was found dead at his home just weeks after the pub was shut down.
Gerald Lennon – former landlord of the Slip Inn at Morley – was last seen by friends on Sunday March 18 after he’d spent that weekend drinking, Wakefield Coroner’s Court heard.
Police were alerted on Wednesday, March 21 and officers broke in to Mr Lennon’s home in Glen Road, Morley, where they found him slumped in the kitchen.
Paramedics declared the 45-year old dead at the scene.
Earlier in March, the Slip Inn had been shut down after reports of violent fights, underage drinking and flouting of the smoking ban. It had its licence revoked by Leeds City Council’s licensing sub-committee after repeated warnings and unannounced visits from the council and West Yorkshire Police in 2011.
Papers submitted to the licensing meeting stated the licence holder of the pub was Terry Benson, while Gerald Lennon was the designated premises supervisor.
The inquest heard Mr Lennon had been an alcoholic for more than 20 years and suffered from chronic pancreatitis.
West Yorkshire Coroner David Hinchliff said tests revealed there were negligible amounts of alcohol in Mr Lennon’s system.
A post mortem revealed he died of pneumonia.
Recording a verdict of death by natural causes, Mr Hinchliff said: “Although he wasn’t drinking at the time, the pathologist believes the years of alcohol abuse would have had a detrimental effect on his system.”
A spokesman for Leeds City Council told the YEP: “Since the decision to revoke the licence for the Slip Inn was made in March 2012 and following an appeal against that decision, improvements have been made by the new management.
“In order for the pub to remain open, a set of strict conditions have been agreed by the licence holder, police and the council.
“The situation at the Slip Inn will be monitored to make sure these improvements are maintained.”
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