The death of a ’cheerful’ 90-year-old Douglas resident was an accident, an inquest has found.

Tributes have been paid to Muriel McAleer who suffered a ’traumatic head injury’ as a result of a fall at her address in Ellan Vannin Care Home on Kingswood Grove, Douglas.

Coroner of inquests, John Needham, told the court that the retired licensee was admitted to Noble’s Hospital after care staff became concerned about a shift in her behaviour following her fall on May 16.

He stated that the cause of Mrs McAleer’s fall was not fully understood, but that she had suffered from falls in the past.

Mrs McAleer died from her injuries on May 30 at Noble’s Hospital.

Mr Needham passed on his condolences to her family, who did not attend the inquest on Tuesday (July 31) at Douglas courthouse.

Staff members at Ellan Vannin Care Home paid their respects towards the family also.

One care assistant said that Mrs McAleer was ’quite cheerful, chatty and would smile at everyone’.

Care worker Irene Devereau said that Mrs McAleer was ’a really nice lady’ who she had become quite close too. She described Mrs McAleer as ’independent’ as she ’liked to do things her way’.

’She was a lovely lady who will be truly missed,’ she added.