Open verdict on Taunton man's death
8:01pm Monday 11th February 2008
A COMBINATION of drugs and alcohol may have caused the death of a Taunton man, an inquest has heard.
Barry Tunney, 52, was discovered dead by William Thompson, his housemate in Roman Road, on April 12 last year.
An inquest in Taunton heard Mr Tunney had battled heroin and drink problems for several years, and that small quantities of alcohol and prescribed painkiller amitriptyline were in his system at the time of his death.
West Somerset Coroner Michael Rose told the inquest the combination of both may have killed him.
Mr Rose said: "Sadly he had resorted to alcohol and drugs. This is a problem that's rife in society and certainly Taunton is not an exception.
"I return a verdict of an open death with the medical cause unascertained.
"I have a strong suspicion that it may have been a result of the combination of the drugs and alcohol which can cause the heart to stop."
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