The family of Shane Clancy, who carried out a murder-suicide in Bray,?Co Wicklow, almost five months ago, is still awaiting toxicology results from gardaí despite the fact that the state laboratory released them six weeks ago.


The 22-year-old's family believe antidepressants drove him to carry out his fatal knife attack on Sebastian Creane (22), at his home in Cuala Grove in Bray before turning the knife on himself on 16 August.


The Trinity College Dublin student also non-fatally stabbed his ex-girlfriend Jennifer Hannigan, who was dating Sebastian Creane, as well as Sebastian's brother Dylan.


One week before he carried out his attack, he overdosed on antidepressants in a suicide attempt and was later given another prescription for more anti-
depressants, which his family do not know if he brought to a chemist.


"I'm concerned about how long it is taking to get the results back. Initially, we were told it would take six to eight weeks. We already know in our own minds that he did what he did because of antidepressants. But our hands are tied in terms to getting legal advice and medical experts for the inquest until we get the results back. The state lab told us they released the toxicology results on 4 December. We have no idea if the autopsy results have been released," his mother Leonie Fennell told the Sunday Tribune.


A newspaper report claimed last week that the inquests into the death of the two young men would be held separately, one at Dublin County coroner's court with Dr Kieran Geraghty, and the other at Wicklow East coroner's court with Cathal Louth.


A spokeswoman for Geraghty said there were "no plans" to hold either inquest at Dublin County coroner's court.


"There was an incorrect report in one of the news­papers about the inquests. I was with Shane after he took the overdose. He was shaking so badly it was as if he had Parkinson's. He should have been admitted to hospital. I know that Shane could never have killed himself or the other young man in his right mind. This will never make any sense for any of us," Leonie Fennell said.


"I know 100% that anti-depressants caused this. It's been proven in the past that they can cause suicidal thoughts. But we need to get the results so we can prepare ourselves for the inquests."