An investigation has been launched after a woman was found dead with several drugs in her system and “extensive” injuries.

Graeme Irvine, senior coroner for east London, has opened an inquest into the death of 50-year-old Nicola O’Shea, after her death was referred by the Met Police.

She was found dead in her flat in Barking Road, Canning Town, on June 17. Her body was identified by police and a support worker, said coroner’s officer Jean Smyth.

A forensic post-mortem examination ordered by Mr Irvine found she had died from “multiple drug toxicity”.

Drugs found in Nicola’s system included alcohol, methadone, cocaine and cannabis.

There were also two psychiatric drugs in her system.

None of the drugs had been consumed in sufficient quantity to cause death, pathologist Benjamin Swift reported to the court, but the combination had proved fatal.  

Dr Swift also discovered “quite extensive physical injuries”, said Mr Irvine.

In total, there were 19 recent injuries to Nicola’s body.

The injuries did not appear to have contributed to her death, said Mr Irvine.

“It seems to me that this is an unnatural death that will need to be investigated in the form of an inquest,” he said.

There had been “some difficulty” contacting Nicola’s family, he said, but Mrs Smyth said they had been located and informed of Thursday’s court hearing (November 9) at the East London Coroner's Court, in Waltham Forest.

However, our reporter was the only person present in court.

Mr Irvine set an inquest date of April 22, 2024, and reserved the case to himself.

He asked Mrs Smyth to investigate whether Nicola had been known to local mental health services and, if so, to ask them to supply a report “from a responsible consultant”.

He also made an order for Nicola’s GP to turn over her last month’s medical records within 28 days.