Sky News is live from London where an inquest is being held, you can follow the updates on this link or on the below post.
UK TIME:
10:45 AM Setting up now at Westminster Coroner’s Court ahead of the start of the inquest.10:50 The coroner is Dr Shirley Radclffe, and the first witness we will hear from will be Stephen Earl, who will give identification and background
11:07 Dr Earl’s report will be via documentation, he will not be in court
11:08 The mother, brother and sister-in-law of Dolores O’Riordan are in the Coroner’s Court today to hear the coroner’s findings
11:09 We will later hear a report from O’Riordan’s American psychiatrist
11:10 O’Riordan was found in room 2005 in the Hilton hotel on Park Lane, London, on 15 January.
11:13 As well as a musical star O’Riordan is described as a ‘loyal daughter’ and ‘dedicated & loving mother’
11:15 After checking in to the hotel, O’Riordan is described as accessing the mini-bar in her room and calling her mother at around 3am
11:16 O’Riordan is described as being found ‘submerged face up in the bath dressed in her pyjamas
11:17 We will now hear from PC Natalie Smart live in the court
11:18 Hotel manager had contacted the police and took PC Smart up to the room
11:19 A maid discovery O’Riordan’s body on entering the room
11:20 When police arrived O’Riordan’s nose & mouth were completely submerged in the bathwater
11:20 O’Riordan was dressed in pyjamas and a long sleeved vest
11:21 Five miniature bottles of spirits were found in O’Riordan’s room, a 35cl mini bottle of Champagne and the packaging for a quantity of medication.
11:21 A packet of cigarettes had also been smoked
11:23 A report from psychiatrist Dr Hirschfield – O’Riordan’s US psychiatrist- she had stopped drinking and seemed to be doing well, although he said she had felt a little low over Christmas
11:25 O’Riordan is described as being on a selection of prescription drugs taken for bipolar disorder
11:26 Toxicology report showed she was 4 times over legal driving limit when found
11:27 We now hear live from Dr Seamus O Ceallaigh, O’Riordan’s psychiatrist in Ireland
11:29 Dr Ceallaigh says he believes she had ‘an episode of mania or elevated mood’
11:29 No note was found in the hotel room
11:31 Back in 2017, at a time of stress, after drinking excessively, O’Riordan had begun a suicide note but then lapsed into unconsciousness.
11:32 Dr Ceallaigh saw her 1 week before her death. She was due to shortly return to New York.
11:33 He says she had maintained sobriety over long periods, but he recognised her use of alcohol as a high risk factor.
11:34 There was no evidence O’Riordan had taken any drugs, other than her prescribed medication. However she had drunk excessive amounts of alcohol.
11:37 The coroner describes O’Riordan as looking forward to the future, both her music and seeing her children in Canada
11:38 Cause of death: drowning due to alcohol intoxication
11:39 Verdict recorded: accidental
11:42 The coroner offers her condolences to the family, and concludes the court session.
11:44 The family of Dolores O’Riordan leave court.
