Alcoholic distressed by London bombs - inquest

A Woman who started to drink more heavily after watching depressing TV footage of the London bombings was found dead at home after mixing alcohol and anti-depressants.

Scenes of carnage after the July 7 attacks, including shots of the hospital where her sister had died in childhood, drove Marion Robinson of Wokingham into a downward psychological spiral, a coroner heard.

The 53-year-old had split with her husband, Alan, who said he could not cope with her mood swings after she had been drinking.

In July, Mrs Robinson confided in neighbour Nicola Harmsworth she had been drinking throughout June.

Less than a month later the divorced mother fell on the stairs and died.

Giving evidence at the inquest in Windsor Mrs Harmsworth said: "Most of June she was drinking and at the beginning of July when the London bombings were on television, which reminded her of her sister who had died in one of the same hospitals."

Mrs Harmsworth said her neighbour had an on-and-off drink problem which had recently worsened after separating from her 57-year-old husband.

At the end of July Mrs Harmsworth said she became concerned after not seeing her neighbour for several days. When she entered Mrs Robinson's home in Waterloo Road she found her naked body.

A post-mortem examination later revealed she had been dead for at least a couple of days. Tests showed Mrs Robinson was just below the legal drink-drive limit.

Dr Hunt could not conclude exactly how she had died, but said a mixture of alcohol and anti-depressants found in her system may have been fatal.

Mr Robinson told the inquest his wife had a low tolerance for alcohol and could get drunk very easily.

In a statement he said: "She had a history of poor health and by the fact she drank in excess I would describe her as an alcoholic."

Coroner Peter Bedford said: "An unascertainable cause of death means I can only record one verdict, which is an open verdict."

ic Berkshire ~ Dec 22 2005