AN ALCOHOLIC was found dead at his home after taking a cocktail of drugs and alcohol, an inquest heard.

Joseph Stuthard McGee, 73, of Colne Road, Kelbrook, was found in an upstairs bedroom by his son Joseph William McGee, of Church Street, Trawden, on May 21. A note found downstairs said: "Joe, I have had enough. I love Diane (his daughter) and you, both. Dad."

At the hearing in Burnley, East Lancashire coroner David Smith said he wasn't convinced it was a suicide note and that Mr McGee had intended to take his life so he recorded an open verdict.

He said: "I think it would be more charitable to your father and yourself."

Mr McGee's son said the death of his wife five years ago had affected his father very badly. He said he had been an alcoholic for a long number of years and had spent time at Alcoholics Anonymous.

Mr McGee said: "At the end of day it is down to the individual and my father had a long hard battle against it."

He had a friendship with a woman but he broke it off and decided to go on holiday on his own. Mr McGee said when he spoke to his father on May 18 he had played a round of golf and was much brighter.

He tried to ring his father on the Wednesday and on Friday he went to his house and found the note and his father.

Pathologist Dr Zafar Qureshi said Mr McGee died after taking a cocktail of alcohol and propoxymol, paracetamol and benzodiazepam.

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