Rossendale heart attack man ‘was provoked’ (From Lancashire Telegraph)

Rossendale heart attack man ‘was provoked’

11:00pm Friday 9th November 2012 in News

PROSECUTORS said there was not enough evidence to bring criminal charges over the death of a retired teacher who was said by a coroner to have been a victim of ‘anti-social behaviour outside his home’.

Patrick Gallagher, 64, suffered a blood clot and died of a heart attack after a row with neighbours about loud music, an inquest heard.

A ‘ghetto blaster’ was said to have been put outside his home in Market Street, Whitworth, last August.

His wife Susan went to call police when her husband was threatened but later found the music had been switched off and Mr Gallagher collapsed in the doorway. He died in Fairfield Hospital three days later.

Four men and a woman — aged from 46 to 64 — were arrested but were all released without charge.

Recording a narrative verdict, coroner Simon Nelson said the neighbours’ behaviour was “wholly provocative”.