Man found in station died of drug overdose

A YOUNG father died days before Christmas, and was found slumped against a train station wall, killed by a cocktail of rohypnol, drink and heroin, an inquest heard yesterday.

Colin Burke, aged 24, with an address at 1 Barrack Lane, Macroom, Co Cork, was found alive by Irish Rail staff lying in a cubicle in the public toilet of Cork’s Kent Station at about 9.40pm on December 21, 2005.

A man accompanying Mr Burke had left the toilets just moments before, Cork Coroner’s Court was told. Irish Rail staff managed to rouse Mr Burke and accompanied him outside, where they left him to sleep off what they thought was a drunken stupor.

The alarm was raised later when other station workers couldn’t wake him, and Mr Burke was pronounced dead a short time later.

The inquest heard how the father of two young children had last seen his partner, Paula Keating, outside Billy Morgan’s pub at about 7.30pm that night.

Garda Sergeant Tom Moore said CCTV showed Mr Burke meeting a friend, Gerry Buckley, at about 9pm.

Buckley, who is in custody facing charges in a separate case, and declined to assist gardaí, was described as a crucial witness.

Sgt Moore tracked him down and spoke to Mr Buckley under caution on February 28, 2006.

Mr Buckley said Mr Burke had been phoned him on December 21, 2005, “looking for stuff.”

Sgt Moore said Buckley had told him Mr Burke took three lines of heroin.

“He wouldn’t be used to it at all. He would only take about two or three lines a week,” Buckley said.

Irish Rail operative, Michael Doherty, said he became aware of someone slumped in the toilet cubicle at about 9.30pm that night.

He was told the man had been drinking and left to inform station supervisors, Ray Foley and Michael Doherty. All three went back to investigate.

Mr Foley stood on the toilet seat of a neighbouring cubicle and looked over to find Mr Burke lying on his side on the floor.

They called to him, and, after about four minutes, managed to rouse him. He stood up, opened the toilet door, and walked out.

He apologised for causing hassle and said he had been drinking.

He asked to be shown the way out and was escorted through an arch. At no stage did did the men fear for his health, said Mr Doherty.

Later that night, car park attendant Roger Power said, he couldn’t wake the man. He informed the overnight station supervisor, Brian O’Farrell, who, after shining a torch in Mr Burke’s face, found his lips had turned blue. An ambulance was called at 11.40pm, but the victim was dead.

Assistant State pathologist, Dr Margaret Bolster, said death was due to the ingestion of rohypnol, in association with alcohol, complication by heroin use.

Coroner Myra Cullinane recorded a verdict of death by misadventure and offered her sympathies to Mr Burke’s family.