Woman, 31, stabbed herself to death with kitchen knife during row with her new girlfriend after they inhaled laughing gas at house party, inquest hears

A receptionist stabbed herself to death with a kitchen knife during an argument with her new girlfriend after they inhaled laughing gas at a house party, an inquest has heard.

Tanya Callaghan, 31, suffered a fatal self-inflicted wound to the heart after rowing with Deseree Fitzpatrick following a playfight at her flat in Wythenshawe, Greater Manchester. 

In the moments before the tragedy the couple, who had been dating for a few weeks before the incident on May 6 last year, began arguing after Miss Fitzpatrick said she was going to leave the party.

Miss Callaghan then picked up a kitchen knife and held it up to her throat before a friend convinced her to put it down. 

Tanya Callaghan , 31, suffered a fatal self-inflicted wound to the heart after rowing with Deseree Fitzpatrick following a playfight at her flat in Wythenshawe, Greater Manchester

But unbeknown to anyone, Miss Callaghan had another knife in her other hand and used it to stab herself in the heart. 

She was rushed to hospital and underwent heart surgery but died from her injuries a week later on May 14.   

In the moments before the tragedy, Tanya was heard to say, 'It's okay, you can have the flat to yourself' before being found by the kitchen sink clutching her stomach.  

Mutual friend Niamh McLoughlin who had been staying at the apartment with Miss Callaghan's flatmate Brooke Plummer said: 'Everyone was getting on, the atmosphere was giddy. People were laughing, joking and play fighting.

'We were pushing and shoving each other in the hallway in a jokey way. But after a short period of time, the atmosphere changed a bit.

'Tanya and Deseree were arguing. Deseree said she was leaving but Tanya said: ''If you are leaving, I am and everyone leaves.''

In the moments before the tragedy the couple (left, Miss Callaghan, right, Miss Fitzpatrick), who had been dating for a few weeks before the incident on May 6 last year, began arguing after Miss Fitzpatrick said she was going to leave the party

'I was in a bedroom with Brooke and heard Deseree walking up and down the stairs and talking to Tanya.

'I heard Tanya say, ''It's okay, you can have the flat to yourself''. She sounded out of her head when she said this and it didn't sound like her. It was like it was not her that was speaking.

'I then heard Deseree say, ''Get that out of your hand,'' in a panicked voice and then say, ''She has stabbed herself,'' I was shocked and stood up and ran to the kitchen. Tanya was against the sink holding herself under her rib cage.

'Her hands were on her chest together. Brooke and Deseree were both in the kitchen saying that Tanya was going to be alright. It was like Tanya did not know what she had done to herself, she looked confused.

The hearing was told Miss Plummer and Miss Fitzpatrick were both arrested on suspicion of causing grievous bodily harm but were later freed without charge 

'She was stumbling around the kitchen and the colour drained out of her face and she collapsed.'

The hearing was told Miss Plummer and Miss Fitzpatrick were both arrested on suspicion of causing grievous bodily harm but were later freed without charge.

Detective Inspector John Robb, of Greater Manchester Police said : 'Brooke and Deseree were interviewed under police caution and both spoke freely and gave a full and consistent account. There was nothing that raised any concern with any inconsistencies. 

'Tanya suffered a wound to her chest, a single wound which penetrated the heart. She suffered internal bleeding. The stab wound was 5cm deep. There was no suspicious circumstances and no one else involved.'

Miss Callaghan  was rushed to hospital and underwent heart surgery but died from her injuries a week later on May 14

The hearing was told Miss Callaghan had previously been diagnosed with an emotionally unstable personality disorder but had been reporting better and more stable moods.

Recording a narrative verdict Manchester coroner Nigel Meadows said: 'Tanya and Miss Fitzpatrick were in a good mood, but then there was an argument where Deseree said she was going to leave and she could have the flat.

'She was in the kitchen and held a knife to her throat, but Brook persuade her to put it down. At that point, Tanya had another knife in her other hand and stabbed her self with it on one occasion. It penetrated her heart, causing catastrophic bleeding and a cardiac arrest.

'Clearly, she was upset by events and unfolded in an argument but I am not satisfied she intended to end her own life.'