Peaches Geldof inquest reveals findings


July 23, 2014

Peaches Geldof had been battling drug addiction for two years before her tragic death an inquest has heard.

Her husband Thomas Cohen told the hearing that she had begun using heroin again in February this year and he confronted her about the issue after finding suspicious texts.

Peaches Geldof: A life in pictures

© Photo: Getty Images

Peaches Geldof had received treatment for addiction 

On Monday, April 7, Thomas found her slumped across the bed at their home in Kent. Their youngest son Phaedra was in another room.

He had been staying with his parents for the weekend with both their boys to give his wife a chance to catch up on chores. On Sunday, Thomas' father returned with Phaedra, then 11 months, and spent 30 minutes with Peaches – before leaving his grandson with her.

Peaches' husband Thomas Cohen told the inquest she relapsed in February

The TV presenter and columnist was a devoted mother, but struggled to cope with the loss of her own mum Paula Yates when she was 11. Tragically Paula also died of a heroin overdose in 2000.

At this week's inquest, the coroner said: "It has been said this is a case of history repeating itself. But this is not entirely so". Peaches had tried to stop using drugs, he added. The inquest heard evidence that in 2013 the mother-of-two successfully received counselling and treatment and was working to reduce her dose of methadone, the substitute drug.

© Photo: Getty Images

Peaches' father Bob Geldof recently spoke of the "intolerable grief" he still felt over his daughter's loss aged just 25. "I go into organisation mode and that distracts me. But, like anybody else, these things assault you without warning," he said.

"You could be talking to someone, you could be walking down the road, and suddenly out of the blue there’s an awareness of her. And you know – I buckle." The pop star-turned-philanthropist told the Lorraine Live programme on ITV that he often had "to duck off into a lane or something and blub for a while". "I imagine that will be there for a long time".

Peaches Geldof was a devoted mother but was haunted by her painful past

Sir Bob added that he hoped that Phaedra and his two-year-old brother Astala would be able to find solace in the love of Thomas' family.

He said: "Tom, their Dad, and Keith and Sue – their grandparents – are amazing people and doing fantastically with the guys. So, yeah, as I say, I don't want them becoming wrapped up in the Geldof life."

For confidential support call the Samaritans in the UK on 08457 90 90 90 or visit a local Samaritans branch.

Sign up to HELLO! Daily for all the latest and best celebrity coverage

Email Address

By entering your details, you are agreeing to HELLO! Magazine User Data Protection Policy. You can unsubscribe at any time. For more information, please click here.