Inquest hears Donegal girl died in suicide pact

An inquest in Letterkenny Coroner's Court heard today that a 14-year-old Donegal girl who was found dead lying in a field close…

An inquest in Letterkenny Coroner's Court heard today that a 14-year-old Donegal girl who was found dead lying in a field close to her home last summer committed suicide.

The hearing heard that Ms Geraldine Chambers, Rossgier, Lifford, had consumed a large amount of vodka and a number of morphine tablets when she was found dead by her brother, Colin, on July 15th, 2002.

Her friend, Alicia McGowan, who had also taken alcohol and tablets, survived.

A deposition by Ms McGowan said that the tragedy was a result of a suicide pact between the two girls. Ms McGowan said Ms Chambers told her she "had lived her life and had nothing more to do." She had also asked Ms McGowan to make her funeral arrangements.

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Ms McGowan took iodine tablets from her own house, while Ms Chambers had taken morphine tablets from her house that belonged to her grandmother.

They then drank the vodka and Ms McGowan said she remembered nothing until she woke up in casualty.

The inquiry also heard that Ms Chambers had left four letters, one each to her mother, father, two brothers, and a friend. There was also a letter from Ms McGowan.

The Deputy State Pathologist, Dr Marie Cassidy, who carried out the post-mortem examination, said that the deceased had "taken several morphine tablets washed down with alcohol."

The jury of six returned a verdict in accordance with medical evidence that death was due to inhalation of vomit due to morphine intoxication.