Roscommon coroner speaks out at inquest into death of teenager

The coroner for County Roscommon has warned about the dangers of cocaine and alcohol abuse.

At a recent inquest in Ballaghaderreen into the death of an 18-year-old man, coronor Brian O’Connor heard that the teenager had taken his own life at the back of a nightclub in Ballaghaderreen and that cocaine intoxication was a contributory factor.

Mr O’Connor said this was, unfortunately, another inquest that had come before him in the last month where a young man had taken cocaine and alcohol. 

He said it was a well-established medical fact that a combination of alcohol with cocaine impairs a person’s judgement.

“Let this be a warning to others, and particularly young people, of the consequences of the abuse of drugs and alcohol,” he said.

In her deposition, the sister of the deceased said that her brother was “a really nice person, very mature” and “a strong figure in the household”. “We really miss him,” she said.

The coroner extended his deepest sympathies to members of the young man’s family on his tragic death. On behalf of An Garda Síochána, Sergeant Pat O’Malley extended his condolences to the family.