Coroner orders fresh probe in poison death

A CORONER ordered gardaí to reopen an investigation into the death of a detention centre inmate after a post-mortem found he died of strychnine poisoning.

The Garda report into the death of 20-year-old Anthony Kelly concluded there were “no suspicious circumstances” surrounding his collapse at St Patrick’s Institution for young offenders in Dublin last year.

Dublin city coroner, Dr Brian Farrell, said he was at a loss to explain why the report had come to this conclusion. He said the autopsy results had given rise to a “serious issue”.

Mr Kelly, from Snowdrop Walk, Darndale, Dublin collapsed while in custody on May 31, 2006. Dr Farrell said there would be evidence that he told prison authorities that he had “taken tablets”.

He was taken to the Mater Hospital for emergency treatment, apparently on the assumption that he was suffering a drugs overdose, but died there the same day. Chief State pathologist Dr Marie Cassidy carried out a post-mortem ordered toxicology tests.

The results and Dr Cassidy’s conclusion were only received by the coroner’s office in April. Dr Farrell opened the inquest yesterday but said he would have to immediately adjourn it pending further investigations.

“My concern is that the cause of death is given as strychnine poisoning. I am not in a position to say how this came about,” he said.

“I am going to have to formally ask that this matter be reinvestigated by the gardaí. . I am at a lost to explain what happened.”

Strychnine is a very powerful poison used mainly to kill rodents and birds that are regarded as pests.

Dr Farrell adjourned the case to July 26 for mention.