Munster Express Online

A young Waterford man died of alcoholic poisoning following a drinking game that led to a lethal amount of vodka being present in his system, a Coroner’s Court heard in Cork last week.

The court heard that UCC student, Gary Murphy (19), Grantstown, Waterford, drank a large quantity of vodka, following a dare, at a party in a flat at Victoria Mills on December 6th, 2009. He had been celebrating the success of Ballygunner in the Waterford Under-21 County Hurling Final.

It was stated that the deceased had a blood alcohol level of 399 milligrams per 100 millilitres on admission to hospital which was in the fatal range, according to the coroner, Dr Myra Cullinane. The level of alcohol in his urine on admission to hospital was 519 milligrams.

The inquest heard evidence from Mr Murphy’s companions at the party who said he had consumed between six and 11 cans before opening a bottle of apple-flavoured vodka he had brought home from a holiday. He drank the vodka neat from the bottle and responded to a ‘dare’ from his companions to finish off the drink.

After it was noticed that the young man was unwell, he was rushed to Cork University Hospital where he lay in a coma for 10 days until his death on December 17th, two days after his 19th birthday.

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