With reader commThe parents of a healthy young woman who died two days after taking half an ecstasy tablet last night spoke of their heartbreak. An inquest into 22-year-old Saoirse McShane’s death heard she had taken the drug at a music festival. 48 hours later she was dead, having suffered a heart attack. Shane and Frances McShane spoke out last night: “We would never have thought that ecstasy could have had such an effect on someone who was so healthy. We’re just devestated,” her father said.
The family said they were shocked how the tiny quantity of the drug began a toxic attack on Saoirse’s system from the moment it was consumed. Ms McShane died 6 September 2011, just over 48 hours after taking the half tablet at the Electric Picnic music festival in Stradbally, Co Laois. Herself and a friend shared the ecstasy pill. She said: “She seemed fine and she took no other drugs that I’m aware of.”
The inquest in Cork was told how different people can have radically different reactions to the drug. Dr Margaret Bolster, assistant state pathologist, said the ecstasy – despite being a small amount – triggered a toxic reaction in the woman’s system, causing cardiac failure.
She said: “Some people can take ecstasy and feel grand but others can take it and have a lethal reaction. It is rare, but medically recognised. Everyone who takes these tablets takes the risk.”
Coroner Dr Myra Cullinane was told how Ms McShane was a healthy young woman and had no previous heart conditions. On 4 September she met friends at the Electric Picnic and took the half tablet, but later complained of feeling unwell.
Waking on 6 September at home in Cork, she had trouble with her sleeping and suffered bad cramps, breathlessness and dizziness. She went to a GP but did not inform them of the ecstasy. Upon returning to her flat, her symptoms worsened and her flatmate called for an ambulance. As she was being brought to the ambulance, she collapsed, suffering a heart attack. Despite efforts to revive her, a short time later she was pronounced dead. Dr Cullinane returned a verdict of death by misadventure: “Saoirse had a rare side effect – the toxicity of the ecstasy in her system caused acute cardio failure. This is such a very sad case.”
