A FATHER of three died after taking four times the fatal dose of anti-depressant tablets, a inquest heard.

Anthony Dooley, 45, had taken an overdose of amitriptyline as well as a number of other anti-depressants which had caused him to collapse on his dining room floor.

He was found by his 15-year-old son James. It followed three previous, non-fatal overdoses in the month before his death.

Assistant deputy coroner Simon Nelson heard how Mr Dooley, who lived with his wife, Angela, at Holden Brook Close, Leigh, had suffered a number of career setbacks during the past two years.

The steel worker had been made redundant a number of times during a lull in the industry.

At one point he left a note to his family telling them he could not cope with life.

Yet at the time of his death on June 28, 1999, his GP Dr John Mercer said he was "alert, bright and rational and he was confident and clear." But psychiatrist Dr Ali Malik said Mr Dooley was "clinically depressed."

The conflicting views on the dead man's state of mind led Mr Nelson to record an open verdict.

He said: "I have to be certain that not only did he take his own life, but he intended to do so. From the evidence presented to me I cannot be certain.

"But there are no suspicious circumstances and there is no doubt that he died from an overdose of tablets.

"The level of amitriptyline was enough to cause his death but mixed with the other drugs it lead to an even more deadly cocktail."

Mr Dooley's wife, Angela, said her husband had difficulties coming to terms with his redundancies, even though she said he found it easy to find another job. After the inquest she said she was happy with the verdict adding: "Whatever he would have concluded would not bring my husband back again."