Ecstasy link to sudden death of young boxer
Tragedy as parents of teenage victim issue warning one year on
A youNG man has died and two others are in a serious condition after apparently taking ecstasy.
Richie Carrigan, 24, a father of two, is suspected of taking the class-A drug in a house in Kirkintilloch, Dunbartonshire. He died shortly afterwards in hospital.
His companions, a 16-year-old boy and a man aged 23, are seriously il l at Glasgow Royal Infirmary.
The death comes almost a year after 17-year- old Regane MacColl died after reportedly taking a Mortal Kombat ecstasy-style pill in a Glasgow nightclub.
Her parents have recently spoken out for the first time to
‘Nothing is worse than losing a child’
warn youngsters of the dangers of drugs.
Semi-professional boxer Mr Carrigan was taken to hospital with the other men at 3.25pm on Saturday.
Detective Inspector Greig Wilkie said: ‘Inquiries are ongoing to establish the circumstances surrounding the men taking ill. A post-mortem will take place regarding the death of the 24-year-old man.
‘one line of enquiry being pursued by officers is that a type of ecstasy may have been involved, however this has still to be confirmed.’
Tributes were paid last night to Mr Carrigan, who had a young son and a baby daughter and lived with partner Emma Brown. His parents were last night too upset to speak.
Mr Carrigan, who late last year competed for the European Boxing Federation Scottish title, was nicknamed ‘ Clubber’ and ‘ The Hitman’ in the ring.
Gary Bell wrote on Twitter: ‘ Still can’t believe my mate Richie Carrigan was taken from us yesterday, wish I could turn back time. Life’s so short. RIP.’
Bobbie Niall wrote that Mr Carrigan was ‘ an amazing man and an inspiration’.
Mr Carrigan’s death came after the parents of Regane MacColl spoke for the first time close to the anniversary of her death to pay tribute to their daughter and warn others about drugs. The teenager had just returned from working with orphans in Africa when she went out with friends to the Arches nightclub in Glasgow on February 1 last year.
Her father Alastair MacColl said: ‘People always think it will never happen to them – but it can. There is nothing worse than losing a child and I hate to think of other families going through the pain we have experienced.
‘I would ask parents to sit down with their kids and be honest with them about how dangerous trying drugs just once can be.’
Dr Emilia Crighton, of NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde, warned that no one can know what recreational drugs contain, saying: ‘ People are playing Russian roulette with their lives.’