Parents had a "ferocious responsibility" to look after children and ensure they are properly supervised at all times, a coroner said yesterday at an inquest into the death of a Co Mayo teenager who died last March after sniffing butane gas and glue.
Pat O'Connor, coroner for east Mayo, described the death of Daniel Peacock, of Ardlee, Swinford, in a house at Circular Road, Kiltimagh, on March 26th last as "a dreadful misadventure".
The inquest heard the deceased, a talented guitar player, was found dead in the garage of a friend's house where he had been listening to and playing music. There was a cylinder of gas beside him.
Toxicology tests showed that the blood was positive for a volatile compound, probably butane gas, and for toluene, an organic solvent which is present in paints, paint thinners, glues and other products.
An inquest jury returned a verdict of misadventure in accordance with the medical evidence.
Mr O'Connor said the pressures of modern living and the availability of money and leisure time often caused young people to experiment.
He said he hoped the man's death would bring home to parents the dangers of children and young adults becoming involved in experiments. Most young people got away with these experiments but Daniel did not.
"Parents have a ferocious responsibility and enormous obligation to look after children and ensure they are properly supervised at all times. Even the best of children will try to get around parental guidance and advice."