A PROMISING post-graduate student died after he became suddenly ill at a party in a Kenmare holiday home, the inquest into his death heard yesterday.
There was conflicting evidence about the amount of drink he had consumed, with those at the party adamant he had not been drinking spirits or drinking heavily.
However, his blood alcohol level was within the lethal range, a postmortem toxicology analysis found, the jury at his inquest was told.
Kieran Hallissey (24), St Mary’s, Rathpeacon, Mallow Road, Co Cork, who was pursuing an MA in business information systems at UCC, was one of 14 people from Cork at a rented house near Kenmare on Good Friday, April 2nd last. They were attending a going-away party for a friend, the inquest heard.
All those at the party were interviewed, Garda Insp Dan Keane, divisional detective in charge of crime and drug investigation, told the inquest.
A number gave evidence at yesterday’s hearing. Most of those interviewed said Mr Hallissey was drinking water for much of the night; he had not touched spirits, was not drunk and was at best sipping beer.
No drugs were consumed at the party, the inquest heard.
One witness said she saw him drinking water at midnight but a short time later saw that he appeared drunk, which she thought was strange as he had not been drinking heavily.
He was acting as DJ at the party for most of the night, the witnesses confirmed.
At about 2.30am on April 3rd, he was found to be ill. CPR failed to resuscitate him and an ambulance was called.
Garda Noel O’Leary who visited the house said he found evidence of “large-scale drinking” with dozens of empty beer bottles over a number of rooms as well as evidence of some spirits having been consumed.
Dr Margot Bolster visited the scene and carried out the postmortem at Kerry General Hospital. There was no drug use, but she found a blood-alcohol reading of 391mg. This was very high and within the lethal range, she noted in a report read by coroner to the inquest. The cause of death was acute alcohol intoxication, Dr Bolster found.
Coroner Terence Casey said the evidence of most of those at the party was not compatible with the postmortem toxicology results. However, the postmortem results were “findings of fact”, he said, and had to be taken into account.
The jury returned a verdict of death by misadventure.
Sympathy was extended to Mr Hallissey’s family by the coroner, by the Garda Supt Michael Maher and the jury foreman.
It is understood Mr Hallissey is to be awarded his MA degree posthumously.