Dad dies from drug overdose

Mark Anthony Ellison's body was found to have more than three times the dose of morphine needed to kill most people, when he was discovered on April 6 last year, at his home in Devonshire Road, Atherton.

Andrew Moore, the partner of Mr Ellison's sister, discovered his body and told the inquest at Leigh Town Hall he had to break a window to enable Elaine -- Mr Ellison's sister -- to get inside when there was no answer at the door.

Mr Moore said: "I saw Mark lying in front of the fireplace with the fire lit, the lights on and the television on. He was just lying there. I felt him and he was cold. I contacted the ambulance and police straight away."

He added there was writing in felt tip pen on the walls and two notes had been written by Mr Ellison. Mr Moore also saw a syringe underneath Mr Ellison's body when paramedics examined him.

June Ellison, Mark's sister, looked after his benefit money for him. She said he had a history of mental illness and had been sectioned.

She said he drank a great deal and had been upset because social services supervised his visits to his daughter.

To her knowledge, she told the inquest, Mark had never taken illegal drugs.

Michelle Roberts, 31, Mr Ellison's former partner and mother of his child, said he had been very anti-drugs.

She said he had tried a couple of times to take his own life: "He tried to hang himself but it could have been a cry for help. He threatened to take tablets the other time but I do not think he actually took them."

Coroner Aidan Cotter said: "He may well have intended to take his own life, but there is no definite proof. He may have taken heroin because he wanted to get a kick out of it. Maybe he took too much, it could have been an accident. I do not know definitely if he intended to take his own life."

Mr Cotter added that the notes found at Mr Ellison's home did not say he intended to take his own life.

He recorded a verdict that Mr Ellison died as a result of abusing heroin.