FAMILIES LEFT GRIEVING BY COCKTAIL OF DRUGS

There were moving scenes in the Dublin City Coroner's Court as the
devastated relatives of four men heard their loved ones had died after
taking various drug cocktails.

Coroner Dr Brian Farrell tried to console the grieving families and warned
of the dangers of using a cocktail of methadone, benzodiazepines (a
prescribed sedative) and heroin.

Martin O'Shea, 17, from Coolock, Shane Fitzgerald, 21, from Fatima Mansions
and George Lennon, 24, of Templeogue all died after taking some or all of
these drugs.

Shocked parents listened in disbelief as they heard for the first time that
their loved ones were taking hard drugs.

A fourth man, Patrick Ennis, 46, of St Teresa's Gardens, also died as a
result of taking methadone and benzodiazepines. His ex wife did not know of
his methadone use either.

In each case, the combination of drugs had caused all four to stop
breathing and die.

Suicide was ruled out and a verdict of death by misadventure recorded,
recognising a sudden accidental death.

Extending his sympathies, Dr Farrell told the families that he saw deaths
caused by these drugs far too often.

"It is a cause of great mortality among young people. It is one of the
major social problems of our time."

A fifth inquest heard how Patrick Mulcahy, 51, from Youghal, Co. Cork, had
died from an accidental overdose of paracetamol.

Mr Mulcahy had taken an excessive amount of paracetamol over a week as he
tried to ease pain in his arm and chest.

Dr Farrell said there was a good deal of public concern regarding the
availability of paracetamol over the counter, and said care was required
when taking it.