An inquest in Cork has heard that two men died in almost identical circumstances after taking a cocktail of drugs at a house party last Christmas.
John Foley, 33, of Rockview Terrace, Cork, and 32-year-old John O'Donoghue from Larchfield Lawn, Youghal, Co Cork, were among a group of people who attended the party in a bedsit at Rockview Terrace on Christmas Eve.
An inquest at the Coroner's Court heard that large amounts of alcohol and drugs, including methadone and prescription drugs, were consumed at the party.
On Christmas Day, Mr Foley's girlfriend, Paula Canty, woke to find him lying lifeless in bed beside her.
In a statement read to the court, Ms Canty said Mr Foley's face was purple and he was not breathing when she turned him over.
Mr O'Donoghue and his girlfriend, Kathleen O'Sullivan, were staying in another flat in the same building and they went to Ms Canty's assistance when they heard her screaming.
They administered CPR to Mr Foley, but he was pronounced dead just before 2.30pm.
Less than six hours later, Ms O'Sullivan woke to find Mr O'Donoghue unresponsive in bed.
She contacted the emergency services and he was pronounced dead some time later at the Mercy University Hospital.
A toxicology screening found that Mr Foley had methadone and a sedative drug in his blood at the time of his death.
Morphine and cannabis were also detected in his urine, but not in his blood.
Pathologist Dr Margaret Bolster, who carried out post-mortem examinations on both men, found that Mr Foley's death was due to methadone toxicity in association with ingestion of a high level of a sedative drug.
A toxicology screening found that Mr O'Donoghue had methadone, two sedative drugs and a sleeping tablet in his blood at the time of his death. Amphetamine was also present.
There were no traces of heroin found.
Dr Bolster said Mr O'Donoghue died of brain damage, associated with pneumonia following a prolonged heart attack due to the effects of taking methadone, two sedative drugs and a sleeping tablet.
Coroner Dr Myra Cullinane recorded verdicts of death by misadventure in both cases.
The coroner told Mr O'Donoghue's mother, Bridget, at the inquest that John would have fallen asleep and would not have suffered.
"It was a dreadful shock for the family and you have been through so much. It's very hard for a family to suffer a bereavement at a time of year like that," said the coroner.
Only one non-Garda witness attended to give evidence at the inquest, while no members of Mr Foley's family were present.
Speaking after the inquest, Ms O'Donoghue said her son was a very quiet person.
"He didn't like trouble. He was a peacemaker. If he could do a favour for anyone he would do it. We miss him an awful lot."
His sister, Denise, described Mr O'Donoghue as a "kind person".
