Dublin man may have died from auto-erotic asphyxiation

A coroner returned an open verdict at the inquest of a 57-year-old man due to the “strong possibility” he died from auto-erotic asphyxiation.

Anthony Farrington was found dead in the patio area of the back garden of his home at Ennis Grove, Sandymount, Dublin 4 on June 1st, 2014.

The cause of death was hanging. Mr Farrington was found with a number of items which coroner Dr Brian Farrell said could have indicated he was engaged in auto-erotic asphyxiation when he died.

Mr Farrington was described as having been in “good form” on the day prior to his death but he suffered from depression and was on prescribed medication.

In delivering his verdict coroner Dr Brian Farrell said there were a number of items at the scene and in Mr Farrington’s home that could link his death to auto-erotic asphyxiation, a practice where a person intentionally restricts oxygen flow for sexual arousal.

Mr Farrington, a father of two, left no note or letter prior to his death. There was no evidence on his mobile phone to suggest he intended to take his own life, Dublin Coroner’s Court heard.

“There were a number of items present on the deceased and in his home that indicate this may in fact have been auto-erotic asphyxiation. It could have been an accident or misadventure and not suicide,” the coroner said.

The coroner said he had no doubt the death was self-inflicted but there was a question over whether it was suicide. He asked the family if they knew what he meant by this statement.

“There is a question whether this was suicide or not, the circumstances indicate it may not have been suicide,” the coroner said.

Toxicology results showed the deceased had a blood alcohol level of 136mg per cent and a postmortem report gave the cause of death as hanging.

“There’s a strong possibility this wasn’t suicide, it may have been an accident, or misadventure. I don’t know what was in Mr Farrington’s mind at the time,” the coroner said.

Due to “a significant doubt that this was suicide” the coroner returned an open verdict, because the circumstances surrounding the death are ‘not absolutely clear.’

He extended his deepest condolences to members of the Farrington family present in court.