Two men died of drug overdoses while on temporary release from prison, Dublin City Coroner's Court heard yesterday. Patrick Joyce (17), of Pigeon House Road, Dublin, died at the Meath Hospital on May 7th 1997, four days after collapsing in St Stephen's Green.
His sister said she and her brother, who was on temporary release from St Patrick's Institution, bought two £20 bags of heroin from a dealer and went to the green. She believed her brother had not taken the drug before and told him to smoke it; but he insisted on having a "turn-on" or injection. She injected him and he collapsed minutes later.
A post mortem examination showed he had died from cardiac arrest brought on by a heroin overdose.
Philip Roche (28), of 7 Dowlings Court, City Quay, Dublin, was pronounced dead at the Meath Hospital on December 8th last, after he had been found collapsed in his home. His death was due to cardiac arrest following a combination overdose of drugs including opium, methadone and benzodiazophine.
Mrs Lily Roche said her son was out of prison on temporary release and was due to start work the next day. She said another son died some years ago from drug abuse.
The jury returned verdicts of death by misadventure.