A North-East family has suffered a second tragedy five years to the day after a University gardener was killed in a pub fight.

Phillip Hoban, whose brother was killed five years ago, died on the anniversary of his sibling's funeral.

Thirty-eight year old Mr Hoban was found hanged at a friend's home on Tuesday October 21.

Police are not treating the incident as suspicious. An inquest was opened into Mr Hoban's death today at the North Durham coroner's office in Crook.

Police said the tragedy occurred at a friend's house on Moor Crescent, Gilesgate, Durham. Mr Hoban lived nearby on Douglas Villas, off Claypath.

It is the second tragedy in five years to hit the Hoban family.

In October 1998, one of Mr Hoban's elder brothers, Paul, a gardener at Durham University, suffered a fractured skull after he became caught up in violence in the car-park of the Sportsman's pub in the Belmont area of Durham.

Two groups, one from Belmont and the other from Sherburn Village, were watching a televised football match on Sky television in the Sportsman's pub.

But good-natured banter escalated into a dispute and trouble spilled into the car park.

He was given a fatal blow over the head with a crutch and made it home. But the following day the 36-year-old was found dead in his Durham home by his other brother, Andrew.

Steven Clark, 26, of Peel House, Front Street, Sherburn Village was jailed for four years for Paul's manslaughter.

It was alleged by the prosecution that Clark struck the fatal blow with the crutch. He claimed he had not used it, although he did admit hitting Mr Hoban with a wheel brace after returning to the scene of the disturbance.

Paul Hoban was the father of a five-year-old boy.

Phillip was the youngest of four brothers and two sisters. One of his brothers is believed to work as a fire-fighter, while the other works for British Gas.

Yesterday, a close friend of Phillip said: "Paul and Phillip were both lovely, they were great. The family were devastated over Paul's death and now this.

"I just can't believe it."