Coroner in plea for alcoholics to get support after death of labourer

Christopher Kennedy, from Leigh, died aged just 37 in February this year after enduring years of alcohol problems, an inquest at Bolton Coroner’s Court heard.

The tragic circumstances of his death prompted an urgent warning from coroner Simon Nelson for people who have issues with drink during the coronavirus crisis to seek lifesaving support.

Mr Nelson said: “I fear many individuals are suffering as Christopher suffered and for a great deal of time in silence.

“I hope that individuals out there who are suffering will appreciate the quality of support available locally.”

In a moving speech, he praised as ‘invaluable’, the work of “We Are With you Wigan and Leigh”, the main alcohol addiction service in the borough who had staff in attendance at the inquest.

His hard-hitting comments came after the inquest learnt how Mr Kennedy was discovered dead in bed in his flat in Siddow Common, Leigh, on February 18.

In the months leading up to his death the hearing heard how he had sought help from the support group but was never able to get on top of his problem.

Born in Billinge before growing up in Leigh and attending local schools, Mr Kennedy worked as a labourer after leaving school, working for a local window firm and on various building sites.

He started drinking at the age of around 16 or 17, and the death of his father who killed himself had a profound effect on him.

In a statement read out at the inquest, his mum Cheryl Monks said he had a dependence on alcohol and was happy when he was alcohol free, but that when he consumed drink, he would go into a depression which would make him consume more.

She said that despite this, he managed to hold a job down for many years, but that he would sometimes binge drink at weekends and turn up late and not at all, which affected his work.

She said she had last seen her son before Christmas when he paid a visit to her house and she said she had no concerns. Mrs Monks said: “We had a general chat and he was fine. I had no concerns and he tended not to be drinking and was always sober when he came to my house.”

She added that she had been aware of him visiting Kennedy House, where “We Are With you Wigan and Leigh” are based but only through someone that had seen him there.

The hearing also heard from his partner Marie Barnes who had last seen him on February 4 after staying overnight and said that he had spoken of being depressed and ‘a bit down’ and had been drinking.

She said she had last texted him on February 12.

She told the inquest that she had not realised how bad his alcohol problem was.

The hearing also read out a statement from his GP Dr Clarke, which made reference to his “alcohol use disease” and to a medical history including “alcoholic liver disease.”

Dr David Barker, a consultant pathologist at St Helens and Knowsley hospitals, also spoke via video link.

He said that Mr Kennedy’s death was caused by an “unascertained natural cause” but that there was no evidence of an “unnatural death”.

He added that he could have died as a result of alcohol related fatty liver but that could not be confirmed.

The hearing then heard from Karen Hill, a recovery co-ordinator at “We Are With you Wigan and Leigh”, formerly known as Addaction, who said that Mr Kennedy had missed a number of appointments and struggled to engage after first becoming involved with the service in April 2019.

Miss Hill also joined in with coroner Mr Nelson’s calls for people to access the support the service provides.

She said: “This is a very stigmatised issue and a lot of people are embarrassed to be seen to be attending a service such as this whether it’s for alcohol or drugs.

“We have so much on offer and are one of the only services in the UK to offer a community rehab facility which runs with the service.

“We have a massive programme which includes a webchat service.

She added: “We have sadly had some deaths but there are positives of people coming out the other end which outweigh the negatives, so there is support if people want it.”

Recording his conclusion, coroner Mr Nelson said that Mr Kennedy died of natural causes.

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