A TRAVELLER from Bricket Wood found hanging in woodland took his own life, an inquest was told.

Coroner Edward Thomas said that Thomas Doran, otherwise known as Patrick Hanrahan, aged 41, of Woodview Lodge, Lye Lane, was a labourer who had not worked for some time.

He died from asphyxiation south of the M25, in woodland on Lye Lane, near the travellers’ site.

A post-mortem found that Mr Doran had a blood alcohol reading of 187mg, which is twice the drink-driving limit.

There was also a trace of cannabis found in his urine but Mr Thomas told the Coroner’s Court in Hatfield that the drug could have been there for “some time”.

According to a police report from Pc Laurence Harwood, Mr Doran had previously attempted suicide twice.

His wife became concerned because she feared that her husband, who had been feeling depressed, had left the site with a piece of rope.

While an officer was talking to the woman, screams were heard from nearby woodland where Mr Doran had been discovered by travellers.

The inquest was told that scenes of crime unit officers were called to the site but there was no indication of third party involvement.

A report from Dr James Ferguson, of Midway Surgery, Chiswell Green, said that Mr Doran had sought help in 2010 while in a “low mood”.

More recently he had been advised to seek help from the Community Drug and Alcohol Team.

No witnesses appeared at the inquest.

Mr Thomas’s verdict was that Mr Doran had taken his own life.