News

Man found dead in Belfast McDonald's had taken heroin

The McDonald's restaurant at Donegal Place in Belfast City Centre, where 34-year-old Gary McAuley died on February 11, 2016
The McDonald's restaurant at Donegal Place in Belfast City Centre, where 34-year-old Gary McAuley died on February 11, 2016 The McDonald's restaurant at Donegal Place in Belfast City Centre, where 34-year-old Gary McAuley died on February 11, 2016

A north Belfast father-of-one found dead in a McDonald's restaurant toilet in February had injected himself with heroin.

Gary Patrick McAuley (34) from Brookville Court was found by staff in a cubicle in the male toilets on the third floor on the Donegal Place restaurant in the city centre on the evening of February 11, 2016. Despite CPR administered and a defibrillator used he was pronounced dead at the scene. A needle, syringe and other drug paraphernalia were found by the body.

His shoes and socks were both removed and a small amount of blood was visible on his leg. The deceased had been released from prison a week prior to his death after serving a four month term in Maghaberry.

Eileen McAuley, the mother of the deceased told the inquest that her son, who had an eight-year-old daughter, had a "long standing addiction" to legal highs and would have taken cannabis.

She said he "loved life" and was his "usual self" when she met him earlier in the day.

The pathologist Jeff Crane said there was a fresh needle puncture in McAuley's left ankle from where he had injected the drug and forensic scientist Siobhan Kirk explained that while other pain killing drugs were found in his system heroin was the "most significant finding".

She told the inquest McAuley's four month incarceration may have led to a reduced tolerance for the drug and contributed to his death.

In a statement to the inquest Dr Conor Neeson, McAuley's GP, outlined a prolonged history of drug and alcohol problems, dating back to 2002. He also noted the deceased's problems with addiction, psychological issues including depression and "ongoing anxiety problems relating to difficult life circumstances", with reference made to a previous paramilitary beating. In August 2015 he reported that McAuley overdosed on heroin.

Coroner Paddy McGurgan ruled that Mr McAuley died due to poisoning by heroin.

He said the deceased had "succumbed to the scourge of our society" and that "no mother should have to bury her son."

He added: I only hope that by highlighting the tragedy that is Gary's death it will reinforce to members of society the dangers of taking drugs. That someone listens and thinks twice before they inject themselves with heroin or any other illegal drug."