The parents of 15-year-old Alex Ryan Morrissey suspect Nitrous Oxide was involved in his death last month.
The parents of a 15-year-old teenager who passed away last month have spoken of the dangers of the use of Nitrous Oxide, otherwise known as ‘laughing gas’ or ‘silver bullets’.
Alex Ryan Morrissey (15) was found slumped over the wall of a house in Dublin on 20 May and later died having been rushed to Crumlin Hospital.
Speaking on Today with Sarah McInerney on RTÉ Radio One on Friday, Alex’s parents, Mick and Áine, from Tallaght in Dublin, sought to highlight the dangers of nitrous oxide, the use of which appears to be on the rise amongst teenagers and which they suspect was involved in Alex’s death.
While Mick and Áine are awaiting the results of a post-mortem to determine the cause of Alex’s death, they told RTÉ’s Evelyn O’Rourke that a doctor on duty on the night Alex died said he had taken some form of substance and suspected that Nitrous Oxide was involved.
O’Rourke explained that Nitrous Oxide is popular as it can be bought for as little as €2. Alex’s parents said they’ve seen so-called ‘silver bullets’ around the fields near their house and in their back garden.
The Alex Ryan Morrissey foundation, or ARM, has been set up by Sinn Féin councillor Dermot Richardson to raise awareness around drugs and to educate parents and children on the matter. Talks have been set up in schools, youth groups and community centres in the Tallaght area.
Commenting on Nitrous Oxide specifically, Áine Morrissey said: “You can’t be taking these things, they’re too young, these are dangerous, their hearts will explode.”
“People are burying their children for a fiver… and live with this heartache forever,” she added.
You can listen to the conversation in full here.
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