Three of the young people from Bridgend who killed themselves for no apparent reason had taken alcohol or illegal drugs that may have affected their judgment, a coroner said yesterday.

Traces of the amphetamine MDMA, cocaine and morphine were found in the body of Allyn Price, 24, who died in the family garage last April. His best friend, Leigh Jenkins, 22, was three times over the drink-drive limit and had amphetamines in his system when he died four weeks later. Gareth Morgan, 27, was two times over the drink-drive limit when he was found dead in January.

Philip Walters, the Bridgend Coroner, declined to record suicide verdicts for the three men because of the effect that the drugs or alcohol might have had on their judgment.

He told the inquests that there needed to be “definite intention” for a suicide verdict.

The three were among 17 young people from Bridgend, South Wales, thought to have taken their own lives since January last year.

The coroner was holding hearings into five of the deaths at Brackla Tabernacle Church, near Bridgend. Mr Walters said there was no evidence of a link between the deaths. Police have ruled out suicide pacts and any suggestion that the internet played a part.

Gwynfor Price, Allyn’s father, saw his “happy-go-lucky” son at their home in Maesteg at 7.30pm, before later finding him hanging.

Allyn Price’s girlfriend, Alisha Austin, said he had been spending time with boys she did not like and had become short-tempered.

Recounting a phone conversation they had on the day he died, she said: “He said, ‘I have got nothing to live for. Will you always be there for me?’ I said, ‘Yes, of course’.”

Recording a narrative verdict, Mr Walters said that the cause of death was asphyxia due to ligature of the neck.

In another narrative verdict he said that Leigh Jenkins, who had been deeply affected by Allyn’s death, died from the same cause.

His mother, Beverley, said that her son was plagued by images of his dead best friend and wanted them to “be together”. Mr Jenkins had seen his GP for depression at the age of 19.

The coroner also said he would not use the word suicide in the case of Mr Morgan, who had been drinking before his brother Christopher found him hanging on January 5.

Shortly after midnight, Mr Morgan had texted Leanne Stone, his ex-girlfriend, saying he would see her in the next life. A note, written in pencil, was found in his room. It said: “Mam, I’m sorry. I just can’t do it no more. Tell Leanne I love her. I love you. All my love Gareth.”

The coroner recorded a suicide verdict in the case of Andrew O’Neil, 20, after hearing that he had been threatened over money before his death last September.

Charlene O’Neil, Mr O’Neil’s sister, said that he was edgy and nervous after a man asked him to deal drugs and threatened to shoot him.

The inquest was told that the threats were not reported to the police while Mr O’Neil was alive. Someone was interviewed after his death but not charged. Mr Walters said: “Whether they are the actual reason why he did what he did I cannot say. But I am sure they did have some effect.”

The coroner said there was no apparent reason why a fifth man, Jason Williams, 21, committed suicide on August 23, 2007. Mr Williams was found by his fiancée, Sian Davies, at their home in North Cornelly, near Bridgend. She described him as a “very, very shy person”.

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