TWO addicts attempting to get off heroin and attending a Dublin out patient treatment clinic died of drug related causes, separate inquests into their deaths heard yesterday.
Both Mr Martin McVeeney (32), of Williams Park, Rathmines, Dublin, and Mr Robert McKay (30), of Druids Court, Poppintree Dublin were involved in separate Physeptone treatment programmes in Trinity Court, Pearse Street.
But yesterday the Dublin Coroner's Court heard that Mr McVeeney was found dead in his flat on September 29th last by his girlfriend, Ms Melissa Redmond. He had died from a toxic reaction to a combination of methadone, anti depressants and alcohol.
Dr Brian Farrell, city coroner, said death had resulted from a "idiosyncratic reaction" which rendered the deceased unconscious from the therapeutic levels of the drugs he had taken. He recorded a verdict of death by misadventure.
The coroner heard the second victim, Mr McKay, who had a three year drug problem, died in the Mater Hospital after injecting himself with a combination of opiates and sedatives while at his girlfriend's home at Shangan Road, Ballymun, on August 1st.
The man's girlfriend, Ms Suzanne Kiely, said he had been doing "cold turkey" in his mother's house for three weeks while undergoing a Physeptone treatment programme in Trinity Court for heroin addiction. At 11.30 a.m. on August 1st he told her he had injected himself in the arm after "scoring" (buying) a white substance that morning. He fell into a fit and despite attempts by neighbours to revive him, was dead on admission to the Mater Hospital.
Dr James Kirrane, consultant pathologist, said death had resulted from respiratory failure due to the combined toxic effects of opiates and sedatives. Dr Farrell recorded a verdict of death by misadventure.