Contaminated heroin may have produced a toxin which led to the death of an addict, Dublin City Coroner's Court heard yesterday.
Mr Joseph Cleary (47), of Donore Avenue, Dublin, was the first victim of a "new disease" to strike heroin users when he died at St James's Hospital on May 3rd last. Dr Sean O'Briain, who carried out a post-mortem said Mr Cleary died of an infected abscess. But he added the organism which caused the infection had not been fully defined and that research was continuing. The inquest was adjourned to February 23rd next so that further reports can be obtained from St James's Hospital.