A WATERFORD Coroner said there is a gap of information regarding a 16 year-old who died after taking a cocktail of drugs in fatal quantities.

Opening the inquest of Shane Cotton, of 22 Priory Court, New Ross, who died on May 18, 2014, Coroner, John Goff, said seven statements were taken but none seem to address where or how Mr. Cotton got the drugs.

At the inquest, which was held on Thursday, Mr. Goff added it was an unsatisfactory case as it is not known if his death was as a result of accidental overdose, experimentation or “young lads who should know better leading him astray”.

The cause of death was officially recorded as cardiorespiratory arrest secondary to fatal levels of PMA (Paramethoxyamphetamine), cocaine, Benzylpiperazine and Benzoylecgonine.

Mr. Goff said it was a clinical verdict that doesn’t address the gaps in information. He added that often in similar cases people have poor memory and said there was no point in adjourning the matter.

Mr. Aaron Sinnott described in his deposition how Shane Cotton returned to a house at Bath Street, in Waterford city, with Michael Murphy at about 3 a.m. on May 17, 2014. He said that Mr. Cotton seemed perfect and didn’t seem to have been drinking. He asked them what they were at and they said “nothing much”.

Mr. Sinnott went to bed. He was sleeping soundly when he was woken by another male saying Shane had to be brought to hospital. He was shocked to find out later that the young man had passed away.

Mr. Keith Murphy, who held the lease for the house, was not in the house that night but confirmed that Mr. Cotton had been paying rent to share a room. He gave permission for Gardaí to search the house.

Mr. Cotton’s mother, Patricia Fahey, said in her deposition that she thought that day her son was going to the park in New Ross to play football.

She asked him was he going to Waterford but said he didn’t know. She presumed Shane went to St. Mullins, adding there was no coverage there.

He had a lot of friends and didn’t know exactly where he was. She later identified her son’s body to Gardaí.

Garda Laura Doolin of Waterford Garda Station said the deceased was brought to University Hospital Waterford in a friend’s car. There was a mention of coke or Es.

A post-mortem was carried out on May 19, 2014. It found that both lungs were congested with fluid and there were a number of drugs in his system.

The Coroner said it was a very tragic case. He offered his sympathies to Mr. Cotton’s family as did the Gardaí.