A MAN with links to the IRA died after refusing to deal with the diabetes which had affected him since childhood.

Ex-drug dealer Kevin ‘Tiny’ Donaghey, 35, would not accept that he needed to moderate his diet and lifestyle to accommodate the condition, Burnley Coroner’s Court was told.

Donaghey, of Paythorne Avenue, Burnley, was taken ill on January 29, after his condition deteriorated overnight.

He was taken to the Royal Blackburn Hospital but he never recovered and was declared dead later that day.

Close friend Grant Smith said he would often have to keep an eye on Donaghey and when he looked to be lapsing into a diabetic coma, he would feed him ‘chocolate, pop, anything’.

The inquest heard that Donaghey, a father-of-two who was originally from Derry, had been first diagnosed with diabetes aged 16 and had always ‘rebelled’ against taking insulin or monitoring his own diet.

Mr Smith said: “We tried to explain to him how dangerous it could get but it had no effect on him.”

He told the inquest that Donaghey would even refuse to admit he was at risk of lapsing into a coma while driving.

Consultant pathologist Dr Zuhir Twage said internal tests conducted on Donaghey showed higher levels of acetone in his blood.

This was often found in diabetes cases which were not being treated properly and could prove fatal, he said.

Dr Twage said he showed signs of being hyperglaecemic, indicating there was too much glucose in his system.

East Lancashire coroner Richard Taylor recorded a verdict of death by natural causes on Donaghey.

He added: “By not taking his medication, he has brought on this condition. That in itself has brought on the natural disease process.”

Donaghey was convicted of cocaine and ecstasy dealing in Burnley in 2005, after moving to East Lancashire from Northern Ireland.

He was also implicated in the deaths of police officers and security officials during Northern Ireland’s Troubles, a Preston Crown Court kidnapping trial was told in 2005.