Medication overdose suspected in Wexford deaths

Gardaí believe a couple who were found dead at their home in Co Wexford suffered an accidental overdose of prescription medication.

Gardaí found prescribed morphine tablets beside the couple named as Stephen de Loughry and his fiancée Melissa Giltrap in their bedroom at a house in the village of Clonroche.

The Irish Examiner understands the morphine had previously been prescribed as pain relief to Mr de Loughry’s mother, who died a number of years ago.

Gardaí suspect the morphine was in the house, located in the Woodlands estate, for some time and that the couple swallowed an unknown number.

The discovery was made on Monday afternoon by someone known to Mr de Loughry, who was aged 28.

RELATED: Two bodies found in Wexford; Gardaí not treating it as suspicious

Ms Giltrap, aged 32, was found in a bed, while her partner lay slumped beside the bed.

The bodies were examined by a pathologist at the scene before being removed for postmortems at Waterford University Hospital.

“This is a tragedy,” said a Garda source. “There is nothing suspicious about it and no one else was involved.”

The couple were known as drug users and there was some initial speculation they may have taken a heroin overdose.

However, gardaí only found morphine tablets and no traces or any other drugs or drug taking equipment.

Gardaí will compile a report for the coroner. Standard blood and urine samples from the couple will be sent to the state laboratory to test for the presence of drugs and alcohol.

These will be presented to the inquest, which will determine the cause of death and the circumstances leading up to it.

Mr de Loughry is from Blanchardstown, west Dublin, while Ms Giltrap is from Slaney View Park in Enniscorthy. She is understood to have a young daughter from a previous relationship.

DISCOVER MORE CONTENT LIKE THIS