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Career criminal died from heart disease and cocaine usage, inquest hears

Francis McColgan was found dead at an apartment at College Court Central on King Street in Belfast
Francis McColgan was found dead at an apartment at College Court Central on King Street in Belfast Francis McColgan was found dead at an apartment at College Court Central on King Street in Belfast

THE mother of a career criminal has urged young people to stay away from drugs after an inquest heard how he died from heart disease with cocaine usage.

Francis McColgan (41), a son of west Belfast Sinn Fein councillor Mary McConville, died just two days after he was released from Maghaberry prison in June 2015.

An inquest heard that he was found by Ms McConville at an apartment near Belfast city centre.

She told the court she discovered her son lying on the living-room floor of the property at College Court Central on King Street.

The inquest heard that drugs paraphernalia, including a blackened strip of tinfoil, pipe and lighter, were found close to the father-of-three's body.

McColgan had a lengthy criminal record dating back more than 25 years, including involvement in the brutal murder of west Belfast man Kevin Taylor in 1997.

In 1991 he was also a passenger in a stolen car that crashed into a taxi, killing mother-of-one Maureen Brammeld and her unborn baby.

He was also jailed in 2010 for possession of more than £5,000 in stained or washed banknotes.

His mother told the court that her son "had been in trouble and in an out of jail all his life".

She said she last spoke to him on the evening before he was found dead and "he was in good spirits".

"I found him lying on the floor and thought at the start that he was sleeping," she said.

"I tried to wake him and I saw a wee mark on his arm."

After running to a neighbour for help, she said, "When we turned him over, we could tell he was dead."

Ms McConville added: "I knew Francis would be in the company of those who took drugs. I was conscious of the fact he may have taken drugs, but he knew I didn't like drugs".

Assistant state pathologist Dr Peter Ingram said a post mortem had found McColgan had suffered from heart disease, which he had been unaware of.

Dr Ingram said there was also a "very low level of cocaine in the blood stream" as well as prescription drugs.

He said McColgan had "severe heart disease, that even in the absence if cocaine, his death could have occurred at any time".

"The cocaine could have been the tipping point," he added.

Coroner Suzanne Anderson found that McColgan's cause of death was heart disease with cocaine usage.

Speaking after the inquest, Ms McConville warned others of the dangers of taking drugs.

"He made mistakes, but he broke his heart at the mistakes he made," she said.

"But what I would say is for people to stay away from drugs."