Coroner warns against ‘deadly poison’ ecstasy after fatalities

A coroner has issued a stark warning about the dangers of taking ecstasy or similar type drugs, which he described as “deadly poisons”.

Cork county coroner Frank O’Connell made his comments at a double inquest into the deaths of friends Michael Coleman, 22, of Dungarvan, Co Waterford, and Liam Coffey, 22, of Cappoquin, Co Waterford, who died after taking a lethal mix of MDMA (ecstasy powder) and PMMA, an amphetamine- type substance.

Mr O’Connell described the two young men as “innocents” who did not know what they were taking and did not know the risks involved. He recorded verdicts of death by misadventure in both cases.