THE GARDA inquiry into the cocaine-related death of model Katy French is nearing completion with a file on the case due to be sent to the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) as early as next week.
The Irish Times understands from senior Garda sources that criminal charges relating to Ms French’s death are “unlikely” because she willingly took the cocaine that caused her to fatally overdose.
However, one man whom gardaí believe helped get the cocaine for Ms French (24) may face charges relating to the discovery of an official Garda identification badge when his property was searched after she died last December.
The badge was reported stolen by a member of the force a year earlier. To date, the man in whose possession it was found has not been able to give any credible explanation as to its origins, according to a well-placed source.
The theft or possession of a Garda badge is regarded as a serious offence because it could be used by criminals to pass themselves off as gardaí while committing crime.
In the past week, gardaí have received further medical evidence confirming Ms French’s death was as a result of cocaine consumption. Initial toxicology test results revealed Ms French died after taking the drug. When those reports were made available, gardaí sought a further batch of tests in an effort to establish if there were any other drugs in her system.
The request was made because a number of recent cocaine overdose victims were also found to have ecstasy in their systems.
The second set of toxicology tests relating to Ms French have just been received by the Garda and the coroner’s office and have confirmed she had not taken ecstasy.
Ms French fell ill and collapsed at a house in Co Meath on Sunday, December 2nd, and was taken by friends to Our Lady’s Hospital, Navan, Co Meath. She never regained consciousness and died at the hospital five days later.
Gardaí believe they know the identity of the people who got cocaine for her in the hours before she died.
In February, gardaí arrested a man and woman at an address in Co Meath. They were questioned about the origins of the cocaine Ms French took and about her last movements before she collapsed. They were subsequently released without charge.
Two other men, aged 19 and 23, were arrested about the same time. They were questioned as to their alleged role in sourcing the drugs and were released without charge.
A decision in relation to charges will be taken by the DPP after his office receives the Garda file.
From the early stages of the investigation, senior Garda sources said privately that the prospect of bringing criminal charges in relation to Ms French’s death were remote because she willingly took the drug.
It is also impossible to establish if the batch of cocaine sourced by the arrested men was the only batch consumed by Ms French in the hours before her death.
Garda sources also pointed out that hundreds of people have died of drugs overdoses in recent years with none of those who got drugs for them having faced homicide-related charges.
Those whom gardaí believe handled the drugs before they were given to Ms French were not found in possession of the drugs. This reduces the likelihood that they will be charged with the offence of possession of drugs for sale or supply.
