TROUBLED teenager David Reilly killed himself because he could not cope with having dragged John Murphy along Fort Road under his car. An inquest yesterday into his death on Monday 26 November recorded a verdict of suicide.
A toxicology report showed that Mr Reilly, who had been diagnosed as suffering from schizophrenia, had overdosed on prescription medicine.
Judge Russell Finch said the verdict of suicide was a result of the overdose coupled with a note found in Mr Reilly’s room and the circumstances surrounding the events of early Saturday morning on 24 November, when the 19-year-old had driven away from the Funk Da Rock music event at the Fermain Tavern.
Mr Reilly was found by his father Graham, a doctor, at about 4.30pm on 26 November slumped over his laptop computer in his bedroom.
He had written the words ‘do not resuscitate’ in blue marker pen on his chest.
An envelope and letter were found on the laptop.
The Ambulance and Rescue Service was called and attempts were made to resuscitate him, but without success. The inquest heard that on Friday 23 November, Mr Reilly had attended the music event at the Fermain Tavern.
He had been drinking throughout the evening and ‘appeared drunk’.
In the early hours he had left the venue and gone to his car.
People saw that he was not fit to drive but, despite their best efforts, they could not stop him getting into his vehicle and driving away.
It appears that it was as he drove away that Mr Murphy got caught under the vehicle.
He was then dragged along until he became free near the roundabout at the top of Le Val des Terres.
Mr Reilly failed to stop and he was later found by police at about 2.30am in Doyle Road in possession of a small quantity of the drug amphetamine. His car was located later at the Odeon.
On the morning of 26 November, Mr Reilly appeared in the Magistrate’s Court charged with the possession of a class B drug.
He was bailed to reappear and returned home.
Mr Reilly had lunch with his parents when a copy of the Guernsey Press arrived carrying the story of the Fort Road incident.
The family discussed the article before his father Graham and mother Sarah had to go out at about 1pm.
Mr Reilly’s body was found by his father on his return to their Forest home later in the afternoon.
Mr Finch closed the inquest and expressed his deepest sympathies to Mr Reilly’s family, friends and relatives.
He also wished Mr Murphy a successful recovery.
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