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Sorry we said your son had ‘heroin Dependency,’ PCC complaint gets apology

Oops? The Middlesborough Evening Gazette wrongly reported a man who died in March was hooked on heroin.

The Gazette article in question reported that the inquest into his death stated he was a heroin addict.

The Gazette is a local newspaper in England owned by Trinity Mirror Group.

The inquest only determined he died of aspiration pneumonia,  the Gazette reported.

Even though the heroin erred about heroin, a pathologist for the inquest found that the man he had a shopping list of drugs in his system:

  • Tramadol, a pain reliever
  • Pregabelin, which is used to “relieve neuropathic pain”
  • Gabapentin, which is used to help treat seizures
  • Cocaine
  • Alcohol

The Gazette has since published an apology at the bottom of its report following a complaint by his father John Woodier to the Press Complaints Commission.

“On April 3, gazettelive.co.uk carried a report of the inquest into the death of Liam Woodier.

“The report stated that Liam had a heroin dependency.

“This was not stated at the inquest.

“We accept this is not true and was a mistake in reporting by The Gazette.

We would like to apologise to Mr Woodier’s family and friends for our mistake.”