The family of an "inspirational" teacher has paid tribute to "everyone's best friend" following his tragic death.
Ruairi O’Callaghan was so popular, personal invites were issued for his cremation due to the numbers who wanted to attend.
His loved ones today criticised Government cuts to mental health funding after an inquest into how he died.
Ruairi taught English and media studies at St Hilda's before leaving the Sefton Park-based school last year.
The 37-year-old suffered long-term mental health issues which led to two admissions to the specialist hospital Windsor House, run by Mersey Care, earlier this year.
Following his second stay he was given a room at a hostel in Stoneycroft, where he was found dead on July 9.
Coroner Anita Bhardwaj ruled he died through misadventure after taking a mixture of drugs, some prescribed, that led to him developing broncho-pneumonia.
Her findings followed an inquest that heard Ruairi, born in Liverpool and who lived in Cressington, was an "articulate" teacher loved by his students.
His dad, Dealga, described him as an "inspirational teacher" and one of the most intelligent people he knew.
He told the ECHO : "He was the go-to guy if you were stuck on Who Wants to be a Millionaire? He had an encyclopedic mind."
Sisters Sorcha and Soifra, and brother, Ciaran, added: "He was everyone's best friend and the best person we've ever known.
"Some of his students are still in touch with our family, the loss felt by them is palpable."
After listening to the treatment and care of the Liverpool FC fan, they also hit out at cuts to mental health funding.
The family were concerned Ruairi was discharged from Windsor House to a hostel, run by social housing service Riverside, on Green Lane.
During the inquest Sorcha said her brother, who had spiralled back into drug and alcohol problems after his first stay, claimed he told staff that moving him to a hostel was like "putting a gun to his head" during the countdown to his second release.
Consultant psychiatrist Dr Nishanth Mathew said Ruairi had been assessed before being discharged, while Ms Bhardwaj concluded the decisions leading to his release - and the accommodation he moved to - were appropriate.
The Gerard Majella courthouse heard Ruairi was allocated a private room at the hostel.
Among the drugs in his system when he died was a mixture of prescribed and illicit substances, including cocaine and a drug it is thought he ordered from abroad.
Family members raised concerns over the number of parcels he received but service manager David Cowhig said staff had no authority to search residents, their rooms or their post.
Speaking after the inquest, the family maintained concerns over his move to the hostel, which was said to have been the only accommodation available for him.
They said they believed there was a "missing step" in the support network between the release of a patient from hospital and their re-integration into the community.
Slamming Government NHS funding cuts, they said: "We all agree that this shows the situation around mental health is at crisis point.
"The funding and the resources are very limited. We can not change the fact Ruairi is dead but we do seek to make it clear that things should change.
"The accommodation he was discharged to should not be have been the only place available and the mental health support was so poor."
They were also critical of cuts to the education system and the consequent impact on teaching conditions.
Ruairi's post mortem suggested he developed broncho-pneumonia as a side effect of the different drugs combining within his system.
Ms Bhardwaj said there was no evidence to suggest Ruairi, one of two men found dead in the same hostel on the same day, had intended to take his life.
He was due to move into a new flat within days of his death and was said to have been planning to work as a volunteer.
Staff at St Hilda's were said to be "shocked and saddened" by his death.
In a touching tribute, the school said: "He was a popular member of the English department and although he left towards the end of last year, he is still held in the affections of so many.
"Ruairi was an exceptional teacher who had our students at the very centre of all he did.
"Alongside his teaching of English and media studies, he also ran a Latin club which inspired many students.
"He was very much a part of the St Hilda’s family and we are praying for him."
A spokesman for Mersey Care NHS Foundation Trust said: “Our immediate thoughts are with the friends, family and loved ones of the deceased at this difficult time.
“Mersey Care has conducted a thorough internal review into the circumstances that led to this tragic event and shared our findings with the coroner and family.
“As with all incidents of this nature, we have reviewed our practices to ensure we continue to serve the needs of our patients and strive for the highest standards of healthcare.”
