A FATHER of four at a 'low ebb' in his life and under 'emotional and financial pressures' committed suicide, a coroner has ruled.

BAE Systems worker Damien Patrick McMahon, of Winchester Street, Barrow was found hanging at his home on June 14 this year by his son Liam McMahon.

The 47-year-old, who had split up with his partner of five years, Tracey Holiday, just two weeks before his death, was found to have alcohol and traces of drugs including Viagra, the legal high Meow and mephedrone in his system in a subsequent postmortem examination.

An inquest at Barrow Town Hall yesterday heard Mr McMahon, who was born in Belfast, had been drinking in pubs each day for at least a week before he took his own life.

A statement read out to the hearing set out how Liam McMahon had returned home at around 11.30pm on the night in question to find no lights on except for the glare of the television.

Both front and back doors were locked with keys still on the inside preventing Liam McMahon from being able to get in, the court heard.

Liam McMahon said in his statement: "He had always been a bit of a drinker but after he split up with Tracey I never really saw him sober.

"I thought he was going out to work everyday, but now I've found out he wasn't going to work, he was going to the pub."

Coroner Paul O'Donnell said police had found debt letters in the house as well as an unsent text message on Mr McMahon's mobile which read 'Me, drink and bad relationships was always going to end in shit (trouble).

"'Tell everyone I always love them. I'm so sorry for everything'."

In conclusion, Mr O'Donnell said he was satisfied Mr McMahon had intended to take his own life.

Mr O'Donnell added: "Mr McMahon was clearly at a very low ebb in his life. He was under significant financial and emotional pressure and I am sad to record he took his own life in the night of June 14."