Man (31) died following overdose

A 31-year-old who was found unresponsive at Sligo Bus Station in July 2017 died as a result of coronary heart disease combined with narcotics intoxication.

Gregory Innes, of Bundoran, Donegal, was found in the male bathrooms of Sligo Bus Station on July 5 th, 2017.

The inquest into his death heard that cleaners who were tidying up at the end of the evening became concerned when they could not open the door of the cubicle after the bus station had been closed.

They called a bus driver for help when they received no response from the cubicle.

One worker went into the cubicle next to it and looked over it, to see Mr. Innes slumped over the toilet, with a syringe at his foot.

Workers called the Gardai and an ambulance, reporting that he was ‘ blue in the face’.

They poked Mr. Innes but received but he was unresponsive.

The inquest was told that Mr. Innes had severe coronary artery disease.

Dr. Paul Hartel, who carried out the post-mortem said: “I performed an autopsy and there were no obvious major medical problems from the exterior of the body.

“I did see a needle puncture mark on the top of the right foot which is consistent with the depositions we heard.

“The gross post-mortem findings did show severe coronary heart disease which is plaque built up on the arteries. It affects all of us as we age but there are other elements that can contribute to that such as high blood pressure, smoking, any type of drug use can quicken that.

“The coronary artery disease I saw was quite extensive and in looking at some of the heart tissue, there was signs that there wasn’t enough oxygen or blood supply getting to the heart muscle.

“Based on the toxicology report, the amount of morphine in the blood, which is a breakdown product of heroin, if someone uses heroin, that was a potentially lethal dose in combination with the other drugs in the system, of which there was quite a few. Benzodiazepines, Valium, that type of thing.

“The combination of drugs was sufficient in conjunction with coronary heart disease to cause death,” concluded Dr. Hartel.

Coroner Eamonn McGowan delivered a verdict of ‘death by misadventure’, and offered his sympathies to the Innes family.

“At just 31 years of age, it’s a tragedy.

“He was caught up in taking substances, you know better than me that he couldn’t stop.

“I bring in a verdict of misadventure, a death from an intended act with a fatal outcome,” he added.