Finding into death of Anthony Gerard Mooney
Deceased
Anthony Gerard Mooney
Demographics
46y, male
Date of death
2008-09-07
Finding date
2015-01-28
Cause of death
acute strychnine poisoning
AI-generated summary
Anthony Gerard Mooney, 46, died from acute strychnine poisoning on 7 September 2008. The coroner found he deliberately self-administered the poison to end his life. Mr Mooney was a builder facing severe financial difficulties despite presenting an outward facade of success. He had substantial unpaid business and personal debts, faced imminent court judgment, and was unable to meet his wife's conditions for reconciliation regarding financial responsibility. A large construction contract (Monivae College, worth $1.37 million) offered no viable solution as first payment was not due until October. His marriage was deteriorating, and he struggled with the psychological burden of his financial collapse. He had obtained strychnine from a neighbour in July 2008 for pest control. In the final email to his wife, he wrote about feeling worn out and hoping he would 'be around' when she returned, consistent with premeditation. The coroner rejected homicide theories and concluded the evidence overwhelmingly supported intentional self-poisoning.
AI-generated summary and tagging — may contain inaccuracies; refer to original finding for legal purposes.
Drugs involved
Clinical conditions
Contributing factors
- severe financial indebtedness and business insolvency
- marital breakdown and separation
- psychological burden of financial crisis concealed from family and business associates
- pending court judgment against business
- inability to fulfil reconciliation conditions with wife
- loss of credit and financial isolation
- failed business ventures and unpaid creditor debts
- construction contract that offered no immediate financial relief
Full text
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