News

Police investigate drugs link to suspicious death

POLICE are investigating whether the suspicious death of a Co Tyrone man found slumped in his front garden could be linked to drugs.

A neighbour discovered Glenn Gervin's body lying next to the front door of his terraced home in Millview Manor, near Coalisland, at about 8.30am yesterday.

Police are investigating the sudden death of the 39-year-old father-of-two.

A large cordon was extended along the street as forensic teams moved in to examine the scene.

Family members who had gathered outside the property did not wish to speak publicly.

Mr Gervin's body was later removed ahead of a postmortem examination to determine the cause of his death.

Neighbours and community members said Mr Gervin, who lived alone with his dog, had a connection with drugs.

Asked whether a drugs link was being investigated, a police spokesman said: "At this stage we are following all lines of enquiry."

Detectives are also understood to be exploring whether Mr Gervin's death followed a fall.

Mr Gervin, known to many as 'Giddy', had a son and daughter and is survived by his parents and five siblings.

Relatives and friends described him as a "gentleman" and a "true legend".

The neighbour who raised the alarm said she was smoking a cigarette when she saw Mr Gervin lying in his garden.

"I thought, 'Is he just drunk?' but I walked over and knew he was dead," she said.

"He was lying on his back. I called to him but there was no answer."

The mother-of-three, who had known Mr Gervin for about 15 years, said she noticed no signs of bruising or indications that Mr Gervin had been attacked at the property, which appeared untouched except for a muddied front door.

Sinn Fein Mid Ulster MP Francie Molloy said he did not wish to speculate over a possible drugs link but admitted that there was increasing concern in Coalisland over drugs.

"The indication I'm getting over the last few weeks is that it is on the rise. There are more pushers, drugs are openly on sale around the town and there are hotspots that have come up - it's a fairly serious situation," he said.

"It is a tragedy, for whatever reason it happened.

"To the family we would express our condolences and our sympathies."

Messages paying tribute to Mr Gervin, a former pupil of St Joseph's Secondary School in Coalisland, had been posted on Facebook last night.

One read: "RIP giddy. Can't believe it, thoughts and prayers with all the family ur defantly are a true legend."

* FOUND DEAD IN FRONT GARDEN: Glenn Gervin

* PROBE: The scene at Millview Manor, Coalisland, where the body of Glenn Gervin was found outside his home early yesterday

PICTURE: Cliff Donaldson