Man used cocaine before his death, inquest told

A YOUNG man who was seen running out in front of traffic and who collapsed a short time later on the pavement had used cocaine…

A YOUNG man who was seen running out in front of traffic and who collapsed a short time later on the pavement had used cocaine in the hours before his death, an inquest has heard.

Thomas Dowling (25), Kildare Road, Crumlin, Dublin, fell backwards on to the pavement at Clonmacnoise Road, Crumlin, on July 14th, 2007, before suffering a number of fits and convulsions.

The inquest into Mr Dowling's death at Dublin City Coroner's Court yesterday heard the emergency services were contacted and CPR was administered until the ambulance arrived. It brought Mr Dowling to St James's Hospital, where he was pronounced dead.

A toxicology screening found that Mr Dowling had a significant level of cocaine in his system but also the heart drug lignocaine, which is increasingly being used to cut cocaine on the street which increases its toxicity.

READ MORE

Coroner Dr Brian Farrell recorded a verdict of death by misadventure.