Ryan death 'caused by cocaine and alcohol consumption'
The inquest into the late Gerry Ryan has heard the broadcaster died from cardiac arrhythmia due to cocaine and alcohol consumption.
The RTE TV and radio presenter was found dead in his apartment on Leeson Street in Dublin last April 30 having called in sick to work the night before.
Mr Ryan was described by friends today as being in very good form at dinner in the Town Bar and Grill on the night before his death.
But his partner of two years, Melanie Verwoerd, said the broadcaster was a showman and in reality he was extremely unwell.
She said he was under enormous pressure financially and at work and was trying to finalise his separation with his wife.
She said the stress started to take its toll physically: he barely slept, suffered heart palpitations and began to feel breathless and dizzy.
When asked if he used cocaine, Ms Verwoerd, who found the broadcasters’ body at his Leeson Street flat said absolutely not, and that she had made it clear when they met that the issue drugs were non-negotiable.
However, the post mortem evidence is that Gerry Ryan died from cardiac arrhythmia as a result of cocaine and alcohol consumption.
