Former police officer died from injuries he sustained in suicide bid 23 years before

Prescription and illicit drug cocktail caused death of mum

A ‘FRIENDLY and popular’ Rochdale mum-of-two died as a result of taking a combination of illicit and prescription drugs, an inquest heard.

Amanda O’day, 46, was found at a one bedroom flat on Hill Top Drive in Kirkholt on May 20.

She was unemployed and single at the time of her death, and was an only child who was raised and educated in Rochdale.

She had been involved with illicit drugs since she was a teenager and had attended rehab once, six to seven years ago, but had returned to drugs and alcohol at the time of her death, the hearing was told.

Daughter Naomi said her mum had been shopping at her favourite shop, TK Maxx, on the morning of her death.

In a witness statement read at the inquest at Rochdale Coroners Court on Wednesday, October 12, she said that her mum has never wished to take her own life. “She was friendly, popular and well-liked by everyone,” she said.

Coroner Matthew Cox said in his conclusion said that Amanda had been a long-term user of illicit drugs and recorded that her death was caused by taking ‘illicit drugs in combination with prescription drugs’.

AFORMER police officer, who was born and raised in Rochdale, died from the injuries he sustained from a suicide attempt more than 20 years ago, an inquest heard.

Brent Lord, 60, who served as a Greater Manchester police officer until the incident in 1999, died peacefully surrounded by his family on May 25.

He had been cared for by his parents, Alan and Anne, following the attempted suicide which left him with life-changing injuries. Before the incident the dadof-two was described by younger brother Craig as a healthy man.

In February 1999, Craig was called to Brent’s house in Todmorden to help Brent reinforce his front door.

In a witness statement read at the inquest, held on Wednesday, October 12, at Rochdale Coroners Court, he said that he arrived to find his brother in an ambulance which had been called by neighbours after he had tried to end his life by hanging. Brent was then taken by ambulance to A&E at Birch Hill hospital where he was resuscitated. He was left with severe brain injuries and had to be fed through a tube.

In a witness statement read at the inquest held on Wednesday, October 12, Craig said: “He loved his job as a police officer and was studying for a law degree.

“He was an active person and enjoyed going scuba diving.”

Brent’s mum Anne, who had been Brent’s primary carer at her home on Bond Street in Rochdale, said in a statement read to the inquest: “He was a shy person until someone got to know him.”

At the inquest coroner Matthew Cox recorded a short narrative conclusion. He said: “The deceased died from the long-term consequences from the injuries sustained in an attempt to take his own life.”

At the time of his death Brent was a patient at The Mews care home in Rochdale, where he was admitted in January and was receiving palliative and respite care.