Boy at party where girl died 'had never taken drugs before'
A teenage boy who was taken to hospital after taking drugs at a party at which a fellow pupil died had never taken illegal substances before, his father claimed today.
Isobel Jones-Reilly, 15, known as Issy, died in the early hours of Saturday after taking a cocktail of drugs at a party at the home of University of London academic Brian Dodgeon.
Paramedics tried to revive her but she died in hospital.
Two of Isobel's classmates, Harry Barton and Jamal Clarke, both 14, as well as Mr Dodgeon's daughter Beatrice Hadjipateras, 14, also took drugs at the party and needed hospital treatment.
Harry Barton's father Nicolas, a company director, today told how his son has been left "traumatised" by the death of his close friend and claimed he had never taken drugs before the party.
Mr Barton, 42, from west London, said: "He is traumatised. He is in shock. He is remorseful, but he is physically okay. He was discharged on Tuesday. Harry took one tablet. There was no alcohol or anything else in his bloodstream. This will be verified by the police and the hospital.
"I can say with absolute certainty that he has not taken drugs before. I feel that Harry's experience was driven by curiosity."
Mr Barton said police had spoken to his son in hospital about what went on at the party in Ladbroke Grove.
Detectives are trying to establish how the drugs, including LSD, amphetamines and ketamine, came to be at the house.
Mr Dodgeon, 60, is an education expert at the University of London's Institute of Education where he researches social problems including alcohol consumption. He and his partner Angela Hadjipateras, 54, were held by police after the party and could face charges of child abandonment.
There were reports that the teenagers, from Chiswick Community School, found a stash of drugs at the house during the unsupervised party. Isobel collapsed having suffered a heart attack. Friends tried to assist her before calling the paramedics, who then took her to St Mary's Hospital.
Mr Barton said his son will return to school on Tuesday. Mr Dodgeon was suspended on full pay after police held him on suspicion of child abandonment and possessing drugs. He has been bailed until June.
