A well-known member of Manchester's travelling community died in his friend's caravan after taking a large quantity of prescription medication, an inquest has heard. Dad-of-six Patrick Douglas Sharp had nine siblings - and had occasionally struggled with depression following the loss of his little brother Tommy after the sudden death of their sister Helen.
The 41-year-old, known as Paddy, came to Manchester after being born in Newcastle. He had sent a number of text messages to friends and family on the morning of March 6 of this year indicating he had taken a large quantity of prescription medication.
He then arrived at his friend John Warburton's caravan in Station Road, Great Harwood, where he was seen 'stumbling' down the road. Paddy asked John if he could sleep in his caravan but John became concerned that afternoon when he heard a 'gurgling' sound coming from Paddy who appeared to be having difficulty breathing. An ambulance was called but he was later pronounced dead, reports LancsLive.
READ MORE Mums who stole £5,000 worth of sunglasses from Trafford Centre spared jail because of their children
After Paddy's death, mourners, including My Big Fat Gypsy Wedding star Paddy Doherty, gathered at Our Lady and the Apostles Church in Stockport where a lavish send-off included a plane leaving a smoke trail in the orange, white and green colours of the Irish flag while a glass carriage pulled by six white horses.
A flat bed truck displaying several large floral tributes, including six hearts for each of his six daughters, was parked opposite the church. Other tributes included a flowers arranged in the shape of the scrap metal worker's truck, while his daughters wore hoodies with a picture of Paddy on the front underneath the words 'Daddy we love you rest in peace'.
At an inquest held at Accrington Town Hall (September 26) heard how Paddy occasionally became depressed, usually when he had been drinking, and an ambulance had previously been called when he revealed he had taken an excess of painkillers.
Paddy's sister Kathleen revealed her family had suffered 'great heartbreak' in the last few years. "We've had a lot of deaths in the family," she said. "We lost my sister and then his baby brother."
Immediately after taking the pills, on the morning of March 6, Paddy informed his friends and family and also called 999 himself. His family did not believe he intended to end his life - a conclusion shared by Area Coroner Richard Taylor.
"If someone has taken too much medication my concern is 'what intent did they have at that time?'," Mr Taylor said. "To find someone has taken their own life I must find they have done a deliberate act with the sole intention of ending their life and I have insufficient evidence to say he intended to take his life on that occasion."
Sergeant Phil Higham of Lancashire Constabulary attended the scene in Station Road after Paddy's death and interviewed several witnesses including John Warburton. "He said he was incoherent and not making much sense," Sgt Higham recalled.
"He allowed him into his caravan where he has gone to sleep. He wakes up around dinnertime, vomited and then cleaned it up and asked if he could go to sleep and he did.
"Mr Warburton described hearing some funny breathing and gurgling noises at around 2.30pm. When he went to check on him he found him not breathing."
A post mortem toxicology test revealed Paddy had levels of oxycodone in his system within the range encountered in fatalities. There was no alcohol in his blood but there was some evidence of cocaine use.
Returning a conclusion of misadventure - where a death is caused as a result of the unintended consequences of an intended act - the coroner said: "Patrick Douglas Sharp died on March 6, 2022, in Station Road having ingested an excess of medication."
READ NEXT:
Metrolink tram derails in city centre as passengers face severe disruption
- Couple suffer 70 HOURS of TUI flight delays on Greek holiday as two flights cancelled and luggage left in Manchester
- Gary Neville denies plot to run for Labour in Greater Manchester while attacking Tories
- Her husband never saw first scan result for the cancer that was killing him - now widow is 'insulted' with £100 offer
