THE STATE Pathologist concluded that the death of a man, who became unwell after he was arrested by gardaí, was due to drug intoxication, his inquest heard yesterday.
Mark Ward (32) from Seafield Lawns, Dundalk, Co Louth, died from ecstasy, amphetamine, mephedrone, ketamine and cocaine intoxication, according to Prof Marie Cassidy.
The findings of her postmortem were read at the opening of the inquest into his death in the Dundalk Coroner’s Court yesterday.
The coroner said his death was the subject of two separate investigations by the Garda and the Garda Síochána Ombudsman Commission.
Both had requested that the inquest be adjourned and members of Mr Ward’s family were told they could ask any questions they had when the inquest resumes next year.
Ann Ward identified her son to gardaí on June 28th this year. The inquest heard he was brought by ambulance to hospital that night and that he was in cardiac arrest.
Dr Wedatallah Osman said there were clothes covering the lower part of the man’s body but he did not know if they belonged to the deceased.
There was no pulse and Mr Ward was pronounced dead at 10.37pm. Coroner Ronan Maguire said a file on the death was with the DPP.
Gardaí were called after he was seen naked on the Avenue Road in Dundalk about 9.30pm on June 28th.
At the time it was reported that after he was detained by gardaí he became unwell and was taken to hospital.