Warning after farmer dies from strychnine poisoning

A CORONER issued a warning yesterday about the use of the banned poison strychnine following the inquest into the death of an elderly farmer yesterday.

The inquest heard John Kelleher, 78, of Upper Horsemount, Ballinagree, died of strychnine poisoning in a doctor’s surgery, in Rathmore, Co Kerry, hours after he had been taken ill, on January 17, 2003.

Coroner Terence Casey said people knew of the location of strychnine on a farm, or anywhere else, should immediately report it so that the substance could be destroyed.