Offaly coroner Brian Mahon presided over inquests at Tullamore Courthouse this week.

Edenderry teen died after taking methadone and alcohol

Offaly coroner Brian Mahon this week declined to offer condolences to separated parents of five whose 14-year-old son died after methadone and alcohol intoxication. James Berry died at his mother's house in Greenwood Park in Edenderry after taking methadone that had been illegally obtained in an apartment in Clonmullen rented by a heroin addict. Describing the inquest as one of the most "surprising and shocking" he has presided over, Mr Mahon said the dead boy had "nil level of supervision, routine and stability, which at age 14 is essential". The coroner said at the inquest's conclusion normally he would express condolences and his sympathy to the parents of the decreased. "You might note I'm not going to do that," he said last Monday. James Berry had spent time in voluntary care in St Joseph's in Clonmel, but refused to return after Christmas 2008. A report is currently being compiled by an independent review group into the case of James Berry after the HSE notified the group of his death. In a statement dated February 29 the HSE also offered its sincere condolences to the Berry family. Evidence was given at last Monday's inquest into James Berry's death at Tullamore court house from James' father David, mother Martina and brother Gary. James' father David Berry told the inquest James spent time at his house on the evening of Saturday, February 20, 2010, but left at approximately 10pm or so. "When James left my house he was okay," Mr Berry told the inquest, adding that his son had not been drinking in his house. The inquest then heard from David Berry's friend David Nolan, who had also spent time at David Berry's house that evening. He revealed that instead of going home James Berry followed him from David Berry's house to heroin addict Peter Galvin's flat in Clonmullen Hall. Mr Nolan told the inquest he stayed behind with James when James's brother Daniel Berry and Peter Galvin left the apartment to go for food in Edenderry. At one point James went to the toilet and was gone for some time. Upon looking for him, Mr Nolan said he saw James Berry come out of Peter Galvin's bedroom and 20 minutes later get "very pale". James Berry left Mr Galvin's apartment on his request at approximately 3am, the inquest heard. The inquest then heard from Peter Galvin that Mr Nolan told him he had seen James Berry come out of his bedroom in the apartment earlier that evening. On inspecting his room Mr Galvin said he didn't see anything missing. He added that he "didn't notice anything gone" from a bottle of methadone he had stored behind a mirror in his bedroom, but admitted he "might not have noticed" if some had been taken. Mr Galvin told the inquest the methadone had been illegally obtained but didn't name who had supplied him with it. He said he had it as he was strung out at the time and wanted to give up heroin, but was faced with a twelve-month waiting list to get onto a methadone treatment programme. Gary Berry told the inquest he heard his brother James come home to Greenwood Park at approximately 3.30am. Gary Berry told the inquest he came downstairs after hearing the door slam to see his brother on the couch with a flagon of cider next to him. He said James went upstairs after he told him not to sleep on the couch and he then brought him a glass of water, most of which he drank. Gary Berry said the alarm was raised the following morning at approximately 11am by his brother Daniel Berry. James' mother Martina Scully told the inquest she screamed after seeing her son with fixed eyes and blackness and vomit around his mouth. She said she presumed her son was staying with his father the previous night when it got late and he didn't come home, and said she didn't have his number to call and check on him. However she added that it wasn't unusual for her 14-year-old son to come home at 3am. Her partner told the inquest he "knew from looking at him" that morning that James was dead. James Berry's body was identified at Tullamore hospital at 2.15pm on February 23, 2010 by Detective Garda Joe Hughes, who said that while James was known to Gardaí locally he never presented as a public order risk. Deputy State Pathologist Dr Michael Curtis told the inquest the cause of James' death was pneumonia, due to a coma following hypoxic brain damage as a result of methadone and alcohol intoxication. In response to a question from the coroner he said that while he can't say with certainty if James's life would have been saved, had he gotten medical attention at 3am his chances would have been enhanced. The jury returned a verdict in accordance with the medical evidence.