DPP reviews magic mushroom death

THE Director of Public Prosecutions is considering whether charges should be brought over the death of a man whose family blame his fall from a balcony on magic mushrooms.

Colm Hodkinson, aged 33, died from severe brain injuries after falling to his death from the balcony of his apartment building, The Anchorage, Clarence St, in Dun Laoghaire, Co Dublin, on October 30, 2005.

Insp Denis Heneghan, from Cabinteely Garda Station, who applied for the inquest to be adjourned, said: “The file is still being considered by the DPP.”

Mr Hodkinson’s father, Eoin, and brothers, Sean and Paul, heard Mr Hodkinson, who was declared dead at the scene, received extensive injuries. His brother-in-law, Kevin Kelleher, formally identified him on November 1, 2005, at St Colmcille’s Hospital in Loughlinstown. The post mortem revealed he died from severe cranial trauma after a fall from a height.

Dublin County Coroner Dr Kieran Geraghty, who adjourned the inquest until June 27, said: “How his death came about will be explained when the inquest is heard in full.”

He added: “It is a very tragic case. I want to extend my sympathy to Mr Hodkinson’s family.”

Mr Hodkinson’s family, who successfully campaigned for the law in relation to magic mushrooms to be changed after his death, said they would not be making any statements until after the inquest is heard in full.

In February, Health Minister Mary Harney moved to ban the sale and possession of magic mushrooms after meeting with the Hodkinson family in December. Ms Harney said the meeting had made her realise the extent of the problem.

The order clarified the Misuse of Drugs act closing a legal loophole which had allowed for the sale of the hallucinogenic mushrooms in their raw form.

Mr Hodkinson, who was the second eldest of five children and ran a dry-cleaning business with his father, was believed to have been a first-time user who had to use the internet to get information about how to take them.