A man who died from drug-related pneumonia while he was an inmate at a Dublin prison was under special observation due to a risk of drug overdose at the time of his death, an inquest heard yesterday.
Paul Kelly (22), of Greenfort Gardens, Clondalkin, was discovered unconscious in his cell at Mountjoy Prison on February 9th, 2006, at about 9.20am.
The father of two was taken to the Mater hospital, where he was pronounced dead.
Deputy State Pathologist Dr Michael Curtis told Dublin City Coroner's Court yesterday that Mr Kelly died from bronchial pneumonia, most likely caused by drug intoxication.
Toxicology screening revealed a cocktail of drugs in Mr Kelly's blood and urine, including methadone, benzodiazapine, codeine, as well as breakdown products of heroin and cannabis.
"I believe the acute pneumonia was linked to the consumption of drugs and I would expect that Mr Kelly had been lying deeply unconscious for several hours prior to his discovery," Dr Curtis told the inquest.
The court heard that Mr Kelly was on special observation and had been checked at 15-minute intervals throughout the previous night and the morning because of his history of attempted drug overdose.
Prison officer Darren O'Donovan noted that Mr Kelly was sleeping above the covers and fully dressed, but he said this "was not unusual for prisoners".
However, when Mr Kelly's cellmate Dean Brazil, who smoked a number of (marijuana) joints with the deceased the previous night, attempted to rouse him he found he could not wake him.
The inquest also heard evidence concerning the drug problem in Mountjoy Prison. Chief officer of the prison Patrick Kavanagh said there were "a large number of people in prison who are working against us and a large number of people outside working against us as well", in a drive to get drugs into the prison.
Coroner Dr Brian Farrell adjourned the inquest into Mr Kelly's death until today to hear further evidence.