Suicide teen may have been sent Facebook threats

The mother of a teenager who took his own life has told a coroner that he may have received threatening messages on Facebook before his death.

Elaine Hughes made the claim while speaking from the body of the court at the inquest into the death of her 17-year-old son, Darren Hughes-Gibson, who was found at Stephenstown Industrial Estate in Balbriggan, Dublin, on Aug 23 last year.

The court heard gardaí were searching for Darren after he was reported missing by his mother when he did not return to his home at New Haven Bay in Balbriggan the previous night. Ms Hughes said her son was a “happy young man” who had been in “good spirits” on the day he disappeared.