Footballer who took own life had been 'laughing and joking' on day he died
A former footballer from Runcorn who took his own life in February had no history of mental illness and showed no signs he had any intention of harming himself – even laughing and joking about the snowy weather on the day he died.
Kieron Durkan, 44, of Roland Avenue, who once scored a goal for Wrexham against Manchester United in the FA Cup, was found dead in his car in Wigg Island car park, Runcorn by his niece's boyfriend Anthony Collins shortly before 12.30am on Wednesday, February 28.
Mr Durkan's wife, Kay had reported him missing to the police earlier that day after he did not reply to texts and calls, which was out of character, the inquest into his death heard today.
Toxicology tests indicated carbon monoxide levels in Mr Durkan's blood were well over fatal levels.
Police officers found household items that had been used for the release of the gas inside the car, which was parked with the engine off.
Detective Inspector Clare Coleman said there was no sign of trauma or injury and Mr Durkan was sat up with his head back on the headrest.
One of the crime scene investigation officers who arrived at the scene at 2am recognised Mr Durkan as having served as a police community support officer (PCSO) in Halton in 2004.
Coroner Claire Welch, read evidence from Sophia Khan, Mr Durkan's GP, who said he had no history of mental health problems and had never expressed any intent to kill himself.
Mrs Durkan said her husband had been his 'normal self' in the time leading up to his death.
The only times when he had seemed not entirely himself was the Friday prior to his death when he had been 'quieter than usual' during drinks with relatives, and he had also pulled out of a family run at Ruthin the previous weekend due to he described as a 'migraine'.
Mrs Durkan told the inquest they had been happy and had been talking about their future plans.
She said: "We were talking about growing old together and going to live abroad. It was never mentioned that we wouldn't be together."
Discussing the morning on the day he died, she said: "It had been snowing the night before and we were laughing and joking about how it never snowed in Runcorn.
"We had a bit of a chat and I said I loved him and then left for work."
PC Daniel Richardson, who examined CCTV footage of Mr Durkan's movements on February 27, found footage from Runcorn Shopping City showing Mr Durkan buying items later used to take his own life from The Range store at around 10.30am, with Mr Durkan handing over a £20 note and waiting for the change.
Footage obtained from the Old Quay Bridge over the Manchester Ship Canal, showed Mr Durkan in a blue Proton car crossing at 11.11am.
An examination of his phone found a text message written – but not sent – that said he loved his wife and other family members.
The phone's internet search history showed multiple search terms relating to how to take one's own life and 'painless' means to do so.
He left no note.
Pathologist Nawal Alash found no signs of trauma or injury on Mr Durkan and said his pinkish skin colouring was consistent with carbon monoxide poisoning.
Mrs Durkan told the inquest she had sent a text at 2pm on February and had not received a reply but as she was in work had to wait until later to follow up with a call.
When she could not make contact, she set off to look for him in places he might usually be.
At 7pm she spoke to Mr Durkan's mother and became worried when she found out his mum had not heard from him either.
She said: "We message all day every day and I hadn't heard from him at all and that's why I was worried.
"His car wasn't there and I had been all the places he would normally be and just nothing.
"He had never done anything like this at all."
The coroner said that the standard of proof for inquests is based on the balance of probabilities, and as such she concluded that Mr Durkan took his own life and the cause of death was carbon monoxide poisoning.
She expressed her condolences to his family and said the shock of someone taking their own life in such circumstances must be 'unimaginable'.
Mrs Welch said the CCTV evidence, the internet search history, toxicology and post mortem findings indicated Mr Durkan intended to take his own life by carbon monoxide poisoning.
Summarising the unexpected nature of the death, she said: "There was no mental health history.
"There weren't signs - other than he was a little bit quieter the Friday before - that that was what he was intending to do.
"Outwardly there was no suggestion he was intending to end his life."
A former footballer from Runcorn who took his own life in February had no history of mental illness and showed no signs he had any intention of harming himself – even laughing and joking about the snowy weather on the day he died.
Kieron Durkan, 44, of Roland Avenue, who once scored a goal for Wrexham against Manchester United in the FA Cup, was found dead in his car in Wigg Island car park, Runcorn by his niece's boyfriend Anthony Collins shortly before 12.30am on Wednesday, February 28.
Mr Durkan's wife, Kay had reported him missing to the police earlier that day after he did not reply to texts and calls, which was out of character, the inquest into his death heard today.
Toxicology tests indicated carbon monoxide levels in Mr Durkan's blood were well over fatal levels.
Police officers found household items that had been used for the release of the gas inside the car, which was parked with the engine off.
Detective Inspector Clare Coleman said there was no sign of trauma or injury and Mr Durkan was sat up with his head back on the headrest.
One of the crime scene investigation officers who arrived at the scene at 2am recognised Mr Durkan as having served as a police community support officer (PCSO) in Halton in 2004.
Coroner Claire Welch, read evidence from Sophia Khan, Mr Durkan's GP, who said he had no history of mental health problems and had never expressed any intent to kill himself.
Mrs Durkan said her husband had been his 'normal self' in the time leading up to his death.
The only times when he had seemed not entirely himself was the Friday prior to his death when he had been 'quieter than usual' during drinks with relatives, and he had also pulled out of a family run at Ruthin the previous weekend due to he described as a 'migraine'.
Mrs Durkan told the inquest they had been happy and had been talking about their future plans.
She said: "We were talking about growing old together and going to live abroad. It was never mentioned that we wouldn't be together."
Discussing the morning on the day he died, she said: "It had been snowing the night before and we were laughing and joking about how it never snowed in Runcorn.
"We had a bit of a chat and I said I loved him and then left for work."
PC Daniel Richardson, who examined CCTV footage of Mr Durkan's movements on February 27, found footage from Runcorn Shopping City showing Mr Durkan buying items later used to take his own life from The Range store at around 10.30am, with Mr Durkan handing over a £20 note and waiting for the change.
Footage obtained from the Old Quay Bridge over the Manchester Ship Canal, showed Mr Durkan in a blue Proton car crossing at 11.11am.
An examination of his phone found a text message written – but not sent – that said he loved his wife and other family members.
The phone's internet search history showed multiple search terms relating to how to take one's own life and 'painless' means to do so.
He left no note.
Pathologist Nawal Alash found no signs of trauma or injury on Mr Durkan and said his pinkish skin colouring was consistent with carbon monoxide poisoning.
Mrs Durkan told the inquest she had sent a text at 2pm on February and had not received a reply but as she was in work had to wait until later to follow up with a call.
When she could not make contact, she set off to look for him in places he might usually be.
At 7pm she spoke to Mr Durkan's mother and became worried when she found out his mum had not heard from him either.
She said: "We message all day every day and I hadn't heard from him at all and that's why I was worried.
"His car wasn't there and I had been all the places he would normally be and just nothing.
"He had never done anything like this at all."
The coroner said that the standard of proof for inquests is based on the balance of probabilities, and as such she concluded that Mr Durkan took his own life and the cause of death was carbon monoxide poisoning.
She expressed her condolences to his family and said the shock of someone taking their own life in such circumstances must be 'unimaginable'.
Mrs Welch said the CCTV evidence, the internet search history, toxicology and post mortem findings indicated Mr Durkan intended to take his own life by carbon monoxide poisoning.
Summarising the unexpected nature of the death, she said: "There was no mental health history.
"There weren't signs - other than he was a little bit quieter the Friday before - that that was what he was intending to do.
"Outwardly there was no suggestion he was intending to end his life."
