Concert-goer died from ecstasy and cocaine toxicity

A young man who collapsed after attending the Swedish House Mafia concert in Phoenix Park died as a result of ecstasy and cocaine toxicity, a coroner has found.

Shane Brophy, aged 21, from The Swan, Crettyard in Co Laois, died at Connolly Hospital, Blanchardstown, on July 8, 2012. He had collapsed at a friend’s apartment in Lucan after the gig. Dublin Coroner’s Court previously heard he was seen taking cocaine on the way to the concert and was seen buying pills from another concert-goer.

Emergency medicine registrar Dr Salah Bibars gave evidence that the hospital was busy with an “unprecedented number of ambulance transfers” from the concert. Mr Brophy was given Naloxone, an opiate antidote. A toxicology screen found amphetamine, methampethamine, and cocaine only in Mr Brophy’s urine. Dr Bibars said giving Naloxone while waiting for toxicology results was protocol and that it would not harm patients who had not taken opiates.

Mr Brophy subsequently went into cardiac arrest and died. At autopsy the cause of death was given as drug toxicity involving “ecstasy and possibly cocaine”.

The inquest was adjourned after legal representatives for the family raised concerns about the administering of Naloxone. At the resumption of the inquest, solicitor Justin Cody submitted a copy of the Irish Medicines Board’s product characteristics for Naloxone which includes advice that “caution should be used” when administering it to patients who have taken drugs including cocaine and methamphetamines.

Coroner Dr Brian Farrell said he had no evidence that the administration of the Naloxone had a “deleterious effect”. He said he would not be able to resolve the issue and would have to “remain silent”.

He returned a narrative verdict outlining the facts stating that Mr Brophy died “from ecstasy and cocaine toxicity”.