PHARMACISTS have been urged to provide tamper proof lids on medicine bottles following the death of a three year old boy who swallowed anti depressants.
Dublin Coroners Court heard yesterday that Jamie Farrell died after overdosing on 20 anti depressant tablets, believing them to be Smarties, in his aunt's handbag.
Yesterday, his aunt, Ms Mary Flood, said she was cleaning her kitchen at Fortlawn Park, Clonsilla, Co Dublin, on November 27th last when she heard Jamie shouting about finding Smarties. She looked after her nephew every day while his parents worked. Jamie was the only son of James and Christine Farrell of Willow Wood Lawns, Hartstown, Clonsilla.
She told the court she went into the child's room and saw his mouth was red. He told her he had eaten all the "Smarties" - anti depressants called prothiadin. Ms Flood says the lid was not child proof and could be slipped off easily.
Jamie was admitted to the Temple Street children's hospital about 11.15 a.m. and died at 12.55 p.m. in an operating theatre. Dr Deirdre Devanney, a consultant pathologist at Temple Street Hospital, said the child's death was due to cardiac arrest, secondary to his ingestion of the tablets.
Returning a verdict of accidental death, the jury urged the Dublin City Coroner to recommend that all pharmacists provide tamper proof lids.