A FORMER Atherton curate who was suffering from cancer died a few days after he collapsed and banged his head.

Father Alan Thomas Flaherty was found on the floor behind the bathroom door at his home and the 56-year-old clergyman told his wife, Venetia, he had collapsed and hit his head. Leigh-born Father Flaherty was taken to Fairfield General Hospital and later transferred to Hope Hospital for neorological surgery. He died seven days after his collapse.

At an inquest in Bury, Coroner Barrie Williams recorded a verdict of death by natural causes.

Father Flaherty's son, Sean of Gilda Road, Boothstown, told the hearing his dad had been a shop steward in Leigh for 20 years but gave up the job to enter the ministry.

After ordination he was appointed curate at Atherton and then in 1992 became vicar at Ainsworth Parish Church.

Father Flaherty had enjoyed good health until being diagnosed with cancer in May last year.