Heartbroken father pleads with teenagers 'not to drink or do drugs'

A heartbroken father who had to identify his son in a morgue yesterday advised teenagers “it’s a bad idea” to go out drinking and smoking drugs.

“It was unreal, unreal. The vision will never leave me. To see your first-born child like that, unreal,” said Michael Ducey.

His son, Jamie Ducey from Dungarvan, had been found face down in a stream, after climbing a wall.

He had drink taken and a friend had told an inquest the 18-year-old had taken to “smoking weed”.

Mr Ducey said Jamie was “a lovely guy, a gentle soul, loved his soccer, loved his music. Just a lovely all-round lad”.

“There’s not much for the young fellas these days, that’s why they end up doing the things that they do.

“They should look after themselves. Things can happen out of nothing.”

Jamie’s mother, Lisa Jones, said her son was the eldest of her three children.

He had moved back home with her after living elsewhere for a short time. She said he had been arrested three or four times in relation to public order offences, drinking in public and “possession of weed” and had received cautions.

On the night he died, May 15, 2014, he had called her about 10.40pm to say he was “drinking a few bottles” and would be back later.

“I said to him ‘take care’. That was the last thing I said to him. He was a good young fella, he had a heart of gold and was a big softie. Jamie didn’t deserve this at all. He is sorely missed by us all.”

A verdict of drowning and death by misadventure was returned.