A man in Ballybeg, Waterford, summed up the mood in the area yesterday: house parties were remembered for loud music and rowdiness, but nobody had come across a situation where a 21st birthday ended with two men on life support after they ingested what was being described as a "concoction" of drugs.
As John Grey (23) from Ballybeg Square was fighting for his life in Waterford Regional Hospital last night, one of his neighbours, who declined to be named, said he couldn't understand how the drugs problem in Ireland had been allowed to reach such crisis levels.
"I can't believe that it is John this has happened to as he is one of the nicest boys around. It is shocking really.
"We all did things years ago but this is something else. We didn't hear any noise until all the ambulances started coming. It is unbelievable that a 21st would turn in to a night like this.
"To have three young fellas fighting to stay alive up in Ardkeen (Waterford Regional Hospital) after a party. I mean we were all wild in our time but I have seen nothing like this before. It is all drugs these days.
"Years ago people would try things once and that would be it. But drink isn't enough for young people anymore."
Local Fianna Fáil Councillor Tom Murphy said he was worried for the welfare of the youth of the community and that the incident had everyone in the parish talking.
"I am stunned and the people in the area are stunned.
"I was coming out of mass this morning and everyone was talking about it. People should be very aware of what their children are up to. You take it they are going to a birthday party and that is that. You don't think the birthday party will end up with three of them in intensive care."
Cllr Murphy said the drug dealers in the area had to be named. It was difficult for people to raise their families with such individuals on the loose in society, he said.
"It is a bad, bad world really and we don't know the half of it.
"I would like to send a message to parents out there just to be aware of what is going on. It is frightening. Nobody thinks this could happen to their child. But it is happening."
Supt Dave Sheehan, who is leading the investigation into the incident, said that he had never come across anything similar in all his years in the force.
He said there had been a similar situation in Dublin but it was not something that gardaí in Waterford had experienced.
Supt Sheehan added that everyone was hoping the men would pull through and that every effort would be made to get to the bottom of the "worrying development."
"Hopefully, once we gather all the information we will be in a better condition to analyse and understand what actually went on at this party," said Supt Sheehan.