Female prisoner (26) died from suspected overdose

An Irishwoman jailed in 2006 after being deported from the US on a major drugs charge died from a suspected drugs overdose while serving a prison sentence for possession of the drug haul, an inquest was told yesterday.

Pamela Graham (26), was pronounced dead at St John's Hospital, Limerick, on September 17th, 2008.

The mother of one was transferred to hospital from her cell at Limerick Prison after allegedly taking an overdose of heroin.

The drugs were supplied to her while she was serving a three-year term for possession of cocaine worth €15,000.

The inquest into her death was adjourned yesterday because her family could not be contacted about the hearing. Inquests cannot be heard without the presence of the deceased’s family members unless they give permission to allow for it to be heard in their absence.

Prison medics discovered Graham unconscious in the cell she shared with two other women on September 12th, 2008.

They resuscitated her and she was taken to St John’s Hospital, where she remained for five days in a critical condition and on life-support.

At the time of her death it was reported there were conflicting views on whether she had sought medical attention on the night she died.

Graham, from Davin Gardens, Caherdavin, Limerick, was jailed for three years in April 2008 after pleading guilty to having cocaine in the boot of a car, which she had parked outside Henry Street Garda station in November 2006.

She had appeared before Limerick Circuit Court a number of months after she was extradited from the US following her apprehension by officers attached to the department of homeland security.

In court, Brian McInerney, for Graham, said his client was a “chronic drug addict” at the time of the offence and said she had “no trappings of wealth”.