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Jim Dobbin MP
UK News

Catholic MP died from polish liquor, inquest hears

Jim Dobbin, 73, was in the city of Slupsk in Poland with the former Deputy Prime Minister John Prescott and Labour MP Alan Meale in September 2014.

They were there together on behalf of the Council of Europe, because Slupsk had won the Council's 2014 award for "promoting European ideals".

At a meal, Jim Dobbin consumed a shot of Polish spirit for each course. It was considered tradition to do this. The inquest heard Mr Dobbin never drank at home. He "rarely" drank outside the home, according to Manchester Evening News.

However Dobbin's colleagues sent him to bed after he said he felt unwell. His wife had trouble waking him in the night, before admitting him to hospital later on. He died less than an hour of arriving there.

A post-mortem found Mr Dobbin's blood alcohol level was nearly five times the UK legal limit.

Coroner Simon Nelson recorded a conclusion of death by misadventure. According to The Independent, he said of Jim Dobbin: "When the coroner's system was undergoing change a few years ago, he was one of a few MPs who responded to a letter I sent out."

"When I met him I found him every bit as engaging as has been described."

Mr Dobbin was the MP for Heywood and Middleton in Greater Manchester for more than fifteen years.

He chaired the Pro-Life Committee in Parliament, and voted against same-sex marriage.

Pope Benedict made him a papal knight in 2008.

His wife Patricia says she received 940 cards of condolence from around the world when he passed away last year.

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