Heroin kills two and puts more in hospital

Two men are dead and two more are fighting for their lives in a Cork hospital amid fears that a lethal batch of high-purity heroin has hit the streets.

At least five people suspected to have taken the same super-concentrated batch were seriously ill in Cork University Hospital (CUH) last night.

All the cases emerged in the last 36 hours prompting health authorities to take the unprecedented step of issuing a public health warning last night before the results of toxicology tests were known.

Dr Chris Luke, consultant in emergency medicine at the Mercy and Cork University Hospitals, said it was imperative that heroin users were made aware of the lethal dangers posed by this batch.

“We don’t think it is contaminated with an infectious agent. We think this is a strong, purer, more concentrated form of the drug than users in Cork are used to.

“The message we need to get out is don’t inject. But if you are going to inject, then certainly don’t do it alone, and if you feel ill, seek medical help immediately.”

The super-pure heroin claimed its first victim, Gary O’Sullivan, 30, on Thursday. Mr O’Sullivan, originally from Togher, died after emergency services were called to an apartment on Blackrock Rd.

It is understood his girlfriend died in similar circumstances just over a month ago.

The second victim, Gavin Thompson, 26, was found dead yesterday in a house at Lansdowne Court, off the Old Youghal Rd.

The two men who are seriously ill were found by ambulance crews in respiratory arrest. Their lives were saved when the paramedics administered naloxone — an antidote for opiates.

David Lane of the HSE South Addiction Services warned of the risks of taking drugs but said drug users can take practical steps to prevent overdose.

He said there were around 400 heroin users in Cork and Kerry. The majority smoke the drug, but in recent times there has been an increase in the number injecting.

“Injecting drugs increases your risk of overdose. Injecting drugs is always a risk but can be even more so with an unfamiliar supply source.

“If someone gets into difficulty after consuming a substance it is critically important to get help immediately by calling the emergency services.”

Gardaí have put a dedic-ated team on the case in an effort to locate the rogue heroin batch before other people die from injecting it.

A senior Garda source said: “We are anxious to hear from anybody who may know where this drug is being acquired. If you have information please ring Anglesea St Garda Station immediately at 021 4522000.”

The drugs warning is the second to be issued in the Cork region in a couple of weeks.

On Sept 9 two men were found dead at a house in Kinsale after using a brown powder known as ‘Mandy’, containing ecstasy and another substance, PMMA.