News

Drug death of vulnerable man in hostel leads to increased 'wellbeing' checks by staff

William Hamilton (28) died from an accidental heroin overdose in a Belfast hostel in April
William Hamilton (28) died from an accidental heroin overdose in a Belfast hostel in April William Hamilton (28) died from an accidental heroin overdose in a Belfast hostel in April

THE mother of a man who died from an accidental heroin overdose and lay on his own in a hostel room for a weekend has welcomed increased checks of vulnerable residents by staff.

William Hamilton (28), who was living at Utility Street hostel in Belfast close to Sandy Row, was found dead on April 3 following an accidental overdose.

At an inquest into his death yesterday it emerged the labourer was last seen around 9pm on Friday, March 31, going into his hostel room but was not checked again until Monday morning, when his lifeless body was discovered hunched over in a kneeling position. He was fully dressed and his bedroom was tidy.

Belfast Coroners' Court heard Mr Hamilton had been released from prison less than a fortnight before his death and spoke to his mother by phone on Thursday, March 30, in which they argued about his drug taking.

Sharon Hamilton told the court that she sent had sent her son a text message after the row telling him she loved him.

"He had a history of mental health problems since he was a teenager and had been taking 'street blues'. On his release from prison he assured me he wasn't taking anything but when I spoke to him on the Thursday night his speech was slurred and I was convinced he was taking the drugs," Mrs Hamilton told Laganside coroners' court.

"I texted him the same night night telling him I loved him but heard nothing back."

The mother-of-three told the Irish News that she hated to think of him "lying on his own" all weekend before his body was discovered.

"You'd think the staff would have carried out more checks at the weekend. I'm glad they're doing something about it now and hope it helps someone else."

Mrs Hamilton said her son had suffered from behavioural problems since childhood and was "in and out of prison" for petty crimes that he'd usually committed "when he had taken something".

A support worker from Utility Street hostel said that "wellbeing" checks on residents had always been carried out on a Monday to Friday basis.

"Weekend checks are now being done because of William," said Eddie Kelly.

A forensic pathologist who examined Mr Hamilton's body said he was "stone cold to the touch" and determined he had died 24 to 36 hours earlier.

A post-mortem found levels of heroin that would cause death. Diazepam was also found in his system.

Coroner Suzanne Anderson said she was "satisfied the death wasn't a suicide" and ruled it was accidental.

"This tragic and untimely death highlights the very grave risk of taking drugs," she said.