Coroner’s chilling warning after girl, 14, dies of MDMA poisoning from ‘The Punisher’ super-strength ecstasy pill
Bethany Devlin-McCrone, from Greasby, Merseyside, died after taking the pill which is said to sell for as little as £5
A CORONER issued a chilling warning after the tragic drug death of a 14-year-old girl, saying: "Sometimes in life you don't get a second chance."
Bethany Devlin-McCrone, from Greasby, Merseyside, succumbed to MDMA poisoning before reaching hospital after taking super-strength ecstasy dubbed The Punisher.
She was said to be a "novice" to drugs and ";never intended" to suffer from the harrowing consequences of taking the party drug, an inquest heard.
The youngster collapsed at her family's home in the early hours of 25 July and was pronounced dead.
Her grieving parents Sean Devlin, 35, and Angela McCrone, 32, today held hands as they listened to the short hearing at Liverpool Coroner's Court today, the reported.
Andre Rebello, senior coroner for Liverpool and Wirral, made a heartfelt appeal to potential drug users to beware the dangers involved.
He said: "The evil people that peddle illegal drugs, I suspect, many of them make vast profits out of the upset and grief that ordinary families, such as Bethany's family, have suffered...
"With this drug, along with other drugs, you cannot build up a tolerance; each time you take it there's a risk of it causing death".
Dr Rebello added: "Sometimes in life you don't get a second chance."
The circumstances surrounding how Bethany got hold of the drug remain unclear due to an ongoing police inquiry.
Following her death a 14-year-old boy was arrested on suspicion of supplying or offering to supply an unspecified controlled drug.
An 18-year-old was also arrested on suspicion of possession with intent to supply controlled drugs.
They were both later released pending further inquiries.
The pills, pressed into the skull mask logo of the Marvel superhero The Punisher, had been selling for as little as £5 each.
Dr Rebello added: "She was given this drug which had fatal consequences.
"There's no evidence that she she knew how dangerous it was. She was a novice with regards to these matters."
He ruled that Bethany died from poisoning caused by 3,4-methylenedioxymethamphetamine - the scientific name for the drug.
Chillingly, Dr Rebello said that the teen did not overdose on the drug — as her death could have been caused by ingesting any amount.
The verdict was given as accidental death.
In an emotional tribute issued after her death, parents Sean and Andrea said: "We are heartbroken to have lost our princess Bethany at such a young age, under such tragic circumstances.
"Her death will leave a gaping hole in everyone’s lives.
“Bethany loved life and when she entered a room, you knew about it.
"She was so bubbly and cheeky, but extremely loving and caring too, and had a heart of gold. Her brothers adore her."
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A local teen told the Echo the drug was "easy to get hold of" on Snapchat, which deletes posts leaving no trail, or via text.
They said: "It is really easy to get hold of. You just ask the older kids and they will give you (a dealer's) Snapchat or a number."
Snapchat said: "Snapchat's community guidelines prohibit all illegal activities on the platform, including the sale or purchase of drugs"
Det Insp Paul Parry of Merseyside Police said: "We want people to think carefully before they consider taking drugs - it is not only illegal to buy and sell drugs, but taking illegal substances can also be very dangerous and potentially fatal.
"People taking these drugs don’t know what’s in them, where they’ve come from or what effects they may have."
He asked for anyone with information to contact police on 101 or Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.
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