Party-goers died from lethal drugs combination

GARDAÍ believe a lethal combination of drugs such as heroin, methadone and Xanax caused the death of two men in their 30s in Cork city.

Gardaí believe they have identified all the other people who attended a party at a flats complex in Cork city where the two men, John Foley and John O’Donoghue, had taken the cocktail of drugs.

Gardaí say that, as the other people had not fallen ill, it is unlikely the drugs were contaminated, and believe the combination of what the two men had taken, probably with alcohol, was likely to have led to their deaths. It could take up to 10 weeks before the full results of toxicology tests are available.

Mayfield-based Supt Tom Myers, who is leading the investigation, said that gardaí had also ruled out foul play.

Gardaí were alerted at 1pm on Christmas Day when Mr Foley’s girlfriend visited the flats complex at Rockgrove Terrace, off the Lower Glanmire Road, and found him unconscious.

Despite attempts by paramedics to revive him, the 33-year-old was pronounced dead at the scene.

His body was taken to Cork University Hospital where a postmortem was carried out on Monday.

Mr O’Donoghue, aged 34 — who was also in the complex but found in a different flat — was rushed to the Mercy University Hospital at 8pm the same night, but died in the early hours of St Stephen’s Day.

He had been discovered by his partner in a similarly critical state.

Gardaí sealed off the area and immediately started a thorough investigation.

They appealed for anybody who had been in the flats on Christmas Eve and Christmas Day to contact them, an appeal to which several people responded.

“We believe we have accounted for everybody else who was at this party and most of them have been interviewed at this stage,” Supt Myers said yesterday.

“We have appointed liaison officers to deal with the families [of the two dead men].”

Mr Foley was originally from Ard Bhaille, Mayfield. Mr O’Donoghue, who had lived in Youghal and Knocknaheeny, had a last address at St Vincent’s Hostel, Anglesea Street.

Supt Myers said gardaí would be preparing a file for the Cork City Coroner’s office.

He said the toxicology results “will take anything between six and 10 weeks to complete”.

* Anybody with information about the incident who may not yet have come forward is urged to contact Watercourse Road Garda Station at 021 455 8260.