Father of four dies of cocaine overdose

THE brother of a man convicted of IRA membership died of a cocaine overdose, an inquest heard yesterday.

Adrian Bullman, 28, a father of four, died at his home at 18 Ilen Court, Togher, Cork on December 16 last after choking on his own vomit, in association with acute cardiac failure and ingestion of cocaine.

His older brother Don was arrested during a Garda investigation into IRA money laundering following the 2004 Northern Bank robbery.

The 32-year-old father of two was found in possession of a washing-powder box containing €94,250 after his arrest outside Heuston Station in Dublin. He was jailed in March for four years for IRA membership by the Special Criminal Court in Dublin.

Cork Coroner’s Court was told yesterday that garda attempts to inspect Adrian Bullman’s house after his death were unsuccessful.

Sergeant JP Hayes said he arranged with the father of the deceased’s partner, Jackie Sheehan, to inspect the house the following day.

But Don Bullman contacted him to say that he would escort him to the house at a later date.

In the meantime, other unnamed members of the family had access to the house, said Sgt Hayes.

He told the inquest he did not believe he had a preserved scene and felt disadvantaged.

Ms Sheehan told the inquest her partner took about 30 DF 118 tablets on the day of his death, was snorting cocaine and smoking cannabis. The couple stayed up most of the night and went to bed at about 7.30am.

Ms Sheehan went shopping with her mother at about 2pm that day, leaving Adrian asleep.

She returned to the house at about 6pm and heard loud snoring coming from the bedroom.

She checked him and saw brown material coming from his mouth and nose. She rang for an ambulance and went back to check him and found black liquid on the bed and floor.

An ambulance arrived but Mr Bullman was pronounced dead at Cork University Hospital at 9.01pm.

Assistant State pathologist, Dr Margaret Bolster said tests found evidence of cocaine, cannabis, valium and di-hydracodeine in his blood.

Coroner Dr Myra Cullinane recorded a verdict of misadventure and warned: “This is an extremely risky behaviour indulged in by members of society unwittingly without fully knowing the potentially tragic outcome.”