The death of Cranberries singer Dolores O’Riordan in a Park Lane hotel in January has been ruled a “tragic accident” according to a coroner’s statement to an inquest at Westminster Coroner’s Court.
O’Riordan died by drowning due to alcohol intoxication.
The BBC reports: “She had no injuries or evidence of self harm, and had drunk an excessive amount of alcohol, expert witnesses said. She had been in the Park Lane Hilton hotel as part of a recording trip ahead of a 2018 tour. PC Natalie Smart, who attended the scene, told the inquest: ‘I saw Mrs O’Riordan submerged in the bath with her nose and mouth fully under the water.’ The inquest heard that there were empty bottles in the room – five miniature bottles and a bottle of champagne – as well as containers of prescription drugs with a quantity of tablets in each container.”
O’Riordan’s blood showed “therapeutic” amounts of medication but an alcohol level of 330mg of alcohol per 100ml of blood, more than four times over the legal limit (80mg) for driving.
The Cranberries released a statement on Twitter asking for privacy and expressing “heartfelt condolences” to O’Riordan’s children and family.
— The Cranberries (@The_Cranberries) September 6, 2018
