A FATHER-of-one died after falling down the stairs following a dispute when a guest was asked to leave a house party.

But police, who initially treated the death of Patrick Healey as murder, were unable to prove if he had been pushed, an inquest heard.

Coroner Michael Singleton said the amount of alcohol consumed by the guests meant it would never been known what happened at the house in Sandpiper Square, Burnley, on May 21.

After the inquest Mr Healey's father, Patrick senior, said his son, of Wycoller Avenue, Burnley, would be greatly missed, "but I am glad it is over."

Initial witness evidence indicated that Mr Healey "had been lifted up and thrown over the head and down the stairs" by David Grimes, the inquest heard today at Clitheroe Town Hall.

But this could not be relied upon because there were differing accounts of what happened, Mr Singleton said.

David Grimes, who had been told to leave the party, said he remembered being shoved down the stairs and toppling over with Mr Healey.

The injuries were either caused by a fall, by being thrown down the stairs, according to pathologist Naomi Carter's statement.

Mr Singleton, handing down a verdict of narrative death said the evidence did not support a verdict of unlawful killing.