THE family of a man who died after taking ecstasy at a party have criticised police for allowing drugs to be later smuggled out of the house, an inquest heard.

Liam Mark O’Neill, 22, died in a house in Ferryhill, County Durham, on November 19 last year. His blood contained high levels of the drug.

The Crook inquest heard officers were called after Mr O’Neill’s death and placed five other people in the kitchen.

It is believed a quantity of drugs, earlier seen by paramedics, were passed over a back fence when an officer left the room.

Detective Constable Grant Cockerill, of Durham Police, agreed the guests should not have been left alone. He said a man arrested on suspicion of supplying drugs was not charged due to a lack of evidence.

Mr O’Neill’s family said they felt let down that the drugs had been allowed to be spirited away.

Coroner Dr Leslie Hamilton said that all the evidence suggested Mr O’Neill took the drugs willingly and concluded that his death was drugs related.