DRUGS PLAYED a major in the death of a young man who was restrained by gardaí during a search of a rented house, an inquest has heard.
David O’Mahony (22), of McSwiney Villas, Gurranebraher, Cork city was restrained by gardaí using handcuffs while they were carrying out a drugs search at his home on November 14th, 2007. He died on that date.
Assistant state pathologist Dr Margaret Bolster told Cork City Coroner’s Court that Mr O’Mahony, originally from Mayfield, died of cocaine, alcohol and lignocaine intoxication during restraint. Giving evidence, the assistant state pathologist said a number of minor injuries found on Mr O’Mahony’s body at autopsy, which included bruises, were consistent with injuries due to restraint, but were not sufficient to cause death.
Dr Bolster said restraint could potentially have been a factor in Mr O’Mahony’s death, but that his death was not due to restraint.
She told the inquest the primary cause of death was the drugs, which, she said, were potentially lethal in themselves.
“This is a complex case,” she said. “Death occurred during or after a restraint procedure. This is an extremely complex interplay of events.”
Other factors at play included the stress of the situation and possible low oxygen levels due to the struggle, she said. Mr O’Mahony was also overweight, the inquest heard.
Dr Bolster said positional asphyxia, a form of asphyxia that occurs when someone’s position prevents them from breathing adequately, was a possible factor in the death, but she could not say what role it played.
“Young healthy people can’t die of positional asphyxia,” Dr Bolster told the inquest.
A postmortem analysis of Mr O’Mahony’s blood found the presence of cocaine and benzoylecgonine, a breakdown product of cocaine.
A lethal level of lignocaine – a heart drug commonly used on the street to cut cocaine, which increases its toxicity – was present.
A trace of morphine, derived from heroin, was also detected. Seizures, which the deceased suffered at the house, were “likely cocaine-induced”, the assistant pathologist said. The inquest continues today.