GARDAÍ IN Cork are to prepare a file for the Coroner’s Court following the deaths of two men from suspected drugs overdoses after attending a Christmas party.
Gardaí began the investigation after they were alerted to the death of a man, named locally as John Foley, in a flat in a house at Rockgrove Terrace, Lower Glanmire Road, Cork, on Christmas Day.
The alarm was raised when the man’s partner was unable to wake him at about 1pm on Sunday and she rang the emergency services, but he was pronounced dead at the scene by a local GP.
The body of Mr Foley (33) was removed to Cork University Hospital where Assistant State Pathologist Dr Margaret Bolster yesterday began an autopsy.
Gardaí later learned that another man, named locally as John O’Donoghue, took ill in another flat in the house at about 8.20pm on Christmas Day, and his partner alerted the emergency services.
Paramedics worked on Mr O’Donoghue (32) in the flat for about an hour before he was removed by ambulance to the Mercy University Hospital, where he died at about 2.45am yesterday.
Gardaí under Supt Tom Myers of Mayfield Garda station began an investigation, and Garda technical experts carried out an examination of the house, which is divided into more than 20 flats.
Both men were in a group of more than 10 people who attended a party at a number of flats in the house on Christmas Eve that continued well into Christmas morning.
Gardaí yesterday began taking statements from some of those who attended and established that various hard drugs had been taken by some people.
A Garda source said it was believed the two deaths were not as a result of a bad batch of heroin or some other drug, but rather as a result of the men taking a cocktail of illegal and prescription drugs
The source said gardaí were awaiting the results of toxicology tests from postmortems by Dr Bolster to establish the exact cocktail of drugs involved.
Among the drugs mentioned to gardaí by those at the party were heroin and methadone as well as prescription tranquilliser Xanax.
Gardaí say it may take several weeks for the full toxicology results to become available.
Neither man had any signs of injuries and there was no sign of forced entry to either flat. Gardaí have ruled out foul play. Garda technical experts also established there was no question of a carbon monoxide leak in either flat.
Family liaison officers have been appointed to work with the partners and families of both deceased.
Gardaí have asked that anyone who may have attended the parties or may have any information that could assist them to call Mayfield Garda station on 021-455 8510.