One of the country's most notorious drug dealers, Tony Felloni, died after suddenly collapsing while on a toilet in a rehabilitation facility in Dublin two years ago, an inquest has heard.
The 81-year-old, a divorced father of seven, was pronounced dead at the Mater Hospital on 22 April 2024.
He had been transferred to the emergency department by ambulance after becoming unresponsive in Clontarf Hospital, where he was recovering from several broken ribs after a fall at home.
Born Anthony Carroll, Felloni was nicknamed 'King Scum'.
He was a notorious heroin dealer in the 1980s and 90s and was jailed for 20 years for heroin trafficking in 1996.
Dublin District Coroner's Court heard that he had suffered a series of falls in the months before his death.
The results of a post-mortem examination showed that he died as a result of hypovolemic shock after suffering a loss of two litres of blood from an injury to his spleen.
Pathologist Eamon Leen gave evidence that he believed the injury to Felloni’s spleen had been caused by a fall.
Professor Leen said that a normally healthy young adult would struggle to cope with such a loss of blood.
In reply to questions from Coroner Dr Clare Keane, about what triggered the fatal injury, he said: "Something dramatic and acute happened in the hours before his death".
While Prof Leen originally believed that Felloni had suffered a fall, he accepted it was possible that the injury to his spleen could have been triggered by "a minor trauma", such as hitting against something, given Felloni’s underlying health conditions.
The pathologist observed that a spleen is essentially "a bag of blood" while noting that the deceased was on blood-thinning medication at the time.
The inquest heard that he also suffered from heart disease, arthritis, osteoporosis and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease.
A consultant geriatrician at the Mater, Dr Colin Mason, gave evidence of the care provided to Felloni after his admission to the hospital, on 30 March 2024, following a fall at his home.
Dr Mason said the deceased had been suffering multiple falls, including four in the previous month.
He said tests confirmed that Felloni had suffered three broken ribs and a fracture of his lumbar spine.
The inquest heard that a healthcare assistant in the Mater found the patient on his knees in the hospital after his legs gave way on 2 April 2024.
However, Dr Mason said there was no evidence that Felloni had suffered any new injury in the fall.
The inquest was told that he was transferred to Clontarf Hospital for rehabilitation care on 6 April 2024.
Another consultant geriatrician, Dr Lucy Chapman, said that Felloni’s mobility had improved during his stay and he was due to be discharged on 24 April 2024, once increased home care provision had been arranged.
Dr Chapman gave evidence of how tests were carried out to ensure that the deceased would be able to get up and down stairs to be allowed home.
She recalled that, on 19 April 2024, Felloni had been approved to leave the hospital with a friend to attend to a financial matter after he had declined the offer of being accompanied by a care assistant.
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Convicted drug dealer Tony Felloni dies aged 81
A nurse at Clontarf Hospital, George Reyes, gave evidence of wheeling the patient on a commode into a toilet at around 5.45am on 22 April 2024 after he had complained of being unwell and feeling nauseous.
Mr Reyes said that Felloni was "pale, cold and clammy with slurred speech" before he lost consciousness.
Evidence was heard that efforts to resuscitate the patient were unsuccessful.
In reply to questions from counsel for the State Claims Agency, Brian Sugrue, Mr Reyes said that Felloni had not suffered any fall under his care.
The inquest heard the deceased’s body was formally identified to gardaí by his daughter, Regina.
Ms Felloni, who had remained close to her father, was expected to attend his inquest but failed to show up at the hearing.
Recording a verdict of accidental death, Dr Keane noted the deceased had suffered six falls in a period of around one month before his death.
The coroner observed that the rib fractures were on the same side of the body as the spleen.
Dr Keane said she was satisfied that the fatal injury was the result of a fall at home, noting there was evidence that he had hit off a chair during the fall, resulting in his hospitalisation.
