A WOMAN who suffered incredible pain died from an overdose of prescribed drugs.

Although Margaret May Riley who had made a previous overdose attempt, had taken 30-50 tablets and had left three notes apparently written at different times for her husband there was no evidence to prove whether she intended to commit suicide or took the tablets to overcome the pain.

East Lancashire Coroner David Smith recorded an open verdict at an inquest in Burnley.

Eric Riley of Wheatcroft Avenue, Fence, said his wife who was 78 had been ill since 1991 and had vascular operations in 1995 and 1998. On April 9 she complained of being tired and went to bed to watch television. When he went to bed he saw she had fallen asleep reading. At 4.30am he woke to realise something was wrong. Paramedics called and told him she had died.

He later found a notebook in which were three notes to him. Mr Smith said they were in different inks and could have been written the previous day or three months earlier.

Pathologist Dr Zafar Qureshi said analysis revealed that Mrs Riley had taken 30 to 50 or more painkillers.

Mr Smith commented: "It is quite obvious Mrs Riley had suffered very ill health for a considerable time and was in great pain for a great deal of time. It is clear she took a considerable number of tablets but a suicide verdict would be unsafe.

" There was no direct evidence why she took the tablets. We don't know whether she intended to end her life or took them to relieve pain with tragic results."

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