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Bandon mother lost three sons to heroin

February 12th, 2018 7:10 AM

By Kieran O'Mahony

Sarah Kidney with her mother Carmel at Bandon courthouse for the inquest into the death of Alan Kidney. (Photo: Cork Courts Limited)

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‘Someone is supplying drugs into this town' said the coroner at an inquest into the tragic death of a young Bandon man, from heroin.

‘SOMEONE is supplying drugs into this town’ said the coroner at an inquest into the tragic death of a young Bandon man, from heroin.

Cork South coroner Frank O’Connell made the comment following an inquest into the death of Alan Kidney (44), who passed away from a heroin overdose on June 13th.

The inquest heard that Alan’s twin brothers had also died from heroin. Addressing Alan’s mother and sister, the coroner said: ‘I hope this is the end of it, not just for you, but for the people of this town. Someone is supplying drugs into this town.’

Mr O’Connell also said it was also ‘quite shocking’ that twins John and Fergus had also died from the drug, with John passing away in 2014 and Fergus in 2016. He also remembered Alan at Fergus’ inquest last year and said ‘there were good reports of his character.’

‘We have never seen the likes of this before, where three members of one family have died from heroin. It is terribly sad.’

A statement by Alan’s aunt, Josephine Kidney, was read in court. 

She said that Alan was living with her at 12 Knockbrogan Terrace and that on the morning of June 13th she heard her nephew snoring upstairs. At 12.10pm she checked on him and found him on his knees and holding his head between his bed and a table. She was unable to move him and immediately called Dr Martin Lane and a priest.

Dr Lane pronounced Alan dead at the scene and he pointed to a syringe on the bedroom floor which neither he nor Josephine touched. 

Assistant state pathologist Dr Margot Bolster said an autopsy revealed that there was evidence of ‘polydrug use’ which included heroin, methadone, alprazolam and carbamazepine. 

She said that all four drugs would have similar actions in depressing the central nervous system, with the amount of heroin being potentially lethal in his body.

‘He was in a coma and didn’t suffer,’ said Dr Bolster.

Dr Bolster said there was evidence of heart disease in the deceased’s body, but that this did not cause his death.

Mr O’Connell issued his verdict that the deceased died as a result of a drugs overdose.

Speaking outside the steps of Bandon Courthouse afterwards, Alan’s mother, Carmel Kidney, said she  was ‘heartbroken.’

‘As a mother I am devastated. I am on my own, all I’ve got is my daughter, Sarah. It has been so hard for me here,’ said Carmel.

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