The family of a 28-year-old Kells woman who died over two years ago have said they are determined to find out who gave her methadone on the night before she died. Brian Curran, an uncle of Kasie Curran of Magdalene Court, Kells who died on 17 th May 2023, told an inquest into her death that the family was not satisfied with the outcome of the Garda investigation and that they now intend taking their case for a proper inquiry into her death to the Ombudsman.

The inquest was told that a Garda file on the investigation into the death was sent to the Director of Public Prosecutions but it was decided there should be no prosecution. This decision was appealed but the original decision not to prosecute was upheld.

The opening witness at the inquest consultant pathologist Professor Muna Sabah summarised the report of her colleague Dr Linda Mulligan of the State Pathologist’s office who carried out a post mortem. She said there was no evidence of injury externally. An internal examination showed that her heart, lungs were normal but there was an abnormality in the liver which showed moderate to severe fatty tissue, steatosis.

Toxicology tests showed the presence of methadone at the rate of 42 microgrammes per millilitre and there was an alcohol reading of 150/100. There was also the presence of olanzapine, alprazolam, diazepam, and nordiazepam. It was concluded that death was caused by methadone intoxication with a contributory factor alcohol and diazepam. In reply to the coroner Professor Sabah said that people who were on methadone for a long period would get used to it whereas in this case where the person had not encountered methadone before, this
amount of methadone in her system would be considered significant. She said that the methadone, the alcohol “which was significant” and anti-depression medication in her system could cause respiratory suppression.

UNCLE LOOKS FOR CLARITY

Ms Curran’s uncle Brian Curran said from the public seating area of the inquest room that his niece was “not on illegal substances, she was given that prior to her death. They were given to her by a third party prior to her death”.
“We want clarity here. We don’t want information going out through the media that she was on drugs. She was not on drugs. She was never treated for any drug addiction, either by a medical professional, in a hospital or anywhere else.”

Mr Curran said. He said the family wanted to clarify from a medical perspective that the amount of methadone contributed to the death of Kasie. She was not a person who would take alcohol to excess. On the day in question she had four cans of lager. That was not excessive in a cause of death. The professor replied that the State pathologist had stated that the cause of death was “acute intoxication with methadone”.
“However, the other medication and alcohol added to the effect of methadone”, she said. The coroner said that it was clear that the primary cause of death was the methadone.

Garda Inspector Alan Roughneen summarised the Garda investigation into the death of Ms Curran. He read a statement from Garda Pearson of Kells Garda Station who said that when he arrived at the scene he was made aware that the deceased was in an upstairs bedroom of the house. He was also made aware that the deceased’s brother had also passed away and his funeral was due to take place at 12 noon. Paramedics had confirmed Ms Curran’s death to him.

He spoke to Kasie’s sister Charlene who identified Kasie’s body to him. She and Kasie’s mother Sharon told him that Kasie was asleep in her bed on 16 th May and was in a crouched position in the bed. Charlene said that she called in to Kasie at 4am to check on her and found her snoring loudly. She checked again at 8am and found her unresponsive and cold and purple in the face. Both women told the Garda that there was a possibility Kasie had consumed methadone before her death.

DPP DECISION NO PROSECUTION

He said that with Sharon’s permission he had removed bed linen, and three mobile phones from the house. Inspector Roughneed confirmed that there had been a Garda investigation into Kasie’s death. A file had been forwarded to the Director of Public Prosecutions and a decision returned that there should be no prosecution.

This was appealed by the deceased’s family and the decision not to prosecute upheld. The coroner asked if suspects for giving the methadone had been identified. The inspector said he did not have that information but a Garda in court said they could find out. The coroner said he did not want anyone named at the inquest and Mr Curran replied that he did not want anyone named but he wanted to find out why the information about suspects was not available in front of the Gardai at the inquest. He asked that the inquest be suspended until the
information was made available. “This would be in the interests of respect to us who have waited two and a half years for this inquest”. He said that Kasie’s mother never got any clarity from An Garda Siochana.

The coroner said he was not allowed to hold an inquest until any Garda investigation was complete. It wasn’t the case that the inquest was delayed for any reason. “Sharon has lost a daughter, Charlene had lost a sister – we want clarity. The clarity is not here. All we are asking for is the factual evidence to be present”, Mr Curran said.

CORONER EXPRESSES SYMPATHY

The coroner said that he and the coroner service had the greatest sympathy for the family. “To lose a daughter and a sister at such a young age is one of the greatest tragedies but I as coroner have sufficient facts before him to be able to make findings as to how Kasie died. “It is clear that you and family are unhappy with An Garda Siochana but this isn’t the forum for a Garda complaint”.

WE WANT JUSTICE

“We certainly want justice, we want fairness and we want the truth to be found and we want those who gave that substance to Kasie to become responsible for that matter”, Mr Curran said. He said other people in the county who gave substances to a high profile person had been brought to account. “Kasie is no different to anyone else. Her life was taken by person or persons and we want justice”.

Mr Lacy said he had to be careful not to go outside his powers as coroner but he asked the inspector if suspects – who were not to be named – had been identified in relation to the substances given to Kasie and the inspector said he did not have permission but could find out if suspects had been identified. Mr Curran said he wanted to find out why that information was not available at the inquest.

The coroner returned an open verdict. He and Inspector Roughneen extended their sympathy to the family of the deceased.