Lawyer lay dead for 24 hours after falling down ventilation shaft on his 29th birthday

A City lawyer lay undiscovered for 24 hours after falling to his death down a ventilation shaft after celebrating his 29th birthday, an inquest heard.

Gary O’Donoghue was last seen alive at 4am following the party at a friend’s flat in Shoreditch on January 25. His body was found with head and chest injuries at the bottom of the shaft near the flat in Quaker Street.

Coroner Dr William Dolman recorded an open verdict, citing a lack of “key” evidence.

Mr O’Donoghue, a corporate solicitor at EMW law firm for five years, had been celebrating with his brother and about 30 friends. Concerns were raised when he failed to appear the next day. His body was discovered shortly after midnight on January 26.

Poplar coroner’s court heard the doors to a ventilation shaft opposite the flat had been left open because of concerns over damp. It was protected by a high metal railing.

Mr O’Donoghue’s close friend Tom Adams, who hosted the party, said: “Gary was one of the first to arrive, around 7.30pm.

“I think he brought a bottle of vodka with him. He was a heavy drinker on this day. He was not consistent, but when he did drink it was heavy.”

Mr Adams said Mr O’Donoghue had a reputation for going missing.

A toxicology report found 207mg of alcohol in Mr O’Donoghue’s blood, about two-and-a-half times the drink-drive limit. Traces of cocaine were also found in his urine.

Police confirmed that no criminal proceedings were pending over the death.