Wrexham,North Wales - Man’s death was ‘drug related’ says coroner

Published date: 18 December 2015 | 

Published by: Staff reporter
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A MAN whose body was found in his flat died of a heroin overdose, an inquest in Wrexham heard.

The inquest at the Guildhall in Wrexham heard Gareth Thomas Freney, 32, had well over the fatal morphine dosage in his blood.

But coroner John Gittins said neither friend Wayne Brown, who found the body, nor police could see any syringes at the house on Offa Street, Brymbo, on July 8.

Mr Brown said he had spent much of the morning with Mr Freney, an alcoholic who also used diazepam, at his home and later in Wrexham.

In a statement read by Mr Gittins, he added he had briefly separated from Mr Freney to warn his support worker, who wad due to visit that afternoon, about his diazepam.

He had bought £50 worth of the drug from a man named Matt, the inquest heard.

The inquest heard Mr Freney had drunk vodka at home before and after going to town and then drunk at a pub while they were out and again after he returned home.

At about 1.30pm Mr Brown said the man known as Matt came to the door, swore and demanded money, which Mr Freney gave him.

Mr Brown then went home to change his clothes, as it was hot and he was sweating, and returned shortly after.

The front door was open when he returned, so he shouted for his friend, but there was no answer.

He went up the stairs, saw Mr Freney’s body, and called for an ambulance.

Police found an injection mark on Mr Freney’s left forearm, with some blood.

Mr Brown did not see any drug paraphernalia at the house, the inquest was told.

Mr Gittins, coroner for North Wales East and Central, said police launched an investigation into Mr Freney’s death but no charges were brought.

Dr John Clifford, of Wrexham Rural Community Mental Health Team, said Mr Freney had problems with alcohol use and was also used heroin and diazepam intermittently.

He showed no signs of psychosis or suicidal thoughts, but there were suggestions of a personality disorder with impulsiveness.

Dr Clifford had decided Mr Freney would continue with support from the CAIS treatment agency and have psychotherapy.

Dr Andrew Dalton’s post-mortem examination revealed Mr Freney had 0.65 millilitres of morphine per litre of blood – the fatal level being 0.2ml. 

He had 98mcg of alcohol per 100 millilitres of blood, which the coroner said was not a huge amount.

But he added he had higher levels in his urine, which indicated he had been drinking over a period of time

Dr Dalton confirmed the mark found by police and added there were also recent injection marks in and around the groin.

There were no signs of any other injuries, traumas or underlying medical conditions.

Dr Dalton gave the cause of death as a heroin (morphine) overdose.

Christine Squires, Mr Freney’s mother, questioned how he could have overcome his fear of needles, which he had since childhood, to inject heroin.

Mr Gittins said it was very difficult to speculate what had happened.

Whether Mr Freney was able to inject the heroin himself – the addictive nature of the drug allowing him to do so – or whether someone else had done it for him, he did not know.

The coroner added that there was ‘no suggestion of any nature’ that Mr Freney had intended to harm himself.

He recorded a conclusion of drug-related death.

see-http://www.leaderlive.co.uk/news/156324/wrexham-man-s-death-was-drug-related-says-coroner.aspx