There has been no improvement in the condition of two young men critically ill in hospital after apparently consuming drugs at a house party in Waterford city last weekend.
John Grey (23) and Kevin Doyle (21) have both been in a coma and on life support at the intensive care unit of Waterford Regional Hospital since being transferred there by ambulance last Sunday.
Yesterday, the families of both men continued their vigil at the hospital. Mr Grey's mother, Betty, said there was "no change" in her son's condition but added: "where there's life, there's hope". She said the family did not want to think about "the dark side".
She was accompanied by her three other grown-up children and her husband, Martin, from whom she is separated.
Members of the Doyle family have declined to comment.
It is understood that Mr Doyle's father, John, who had been in Australia, has returned to Ireland and is at the hospital with Kevin's mother, Breda.
The two men were taken ill at a party in Ms Grey's home at Ballybeg, an estate on the outskirts of Waterford city, during the early hours of last Sunday morning.
The emergency services, including five ambulances, went to the house following requests for assistance. A total of 15 people subsequently attended the emergency department at Waterford Regional Hospital.
Gardaí, who removed a quantity of drugs, including cocaine and amphetamines, had taken over the house for technical examination.
As a result, Ms Grey had been staying with a son but, yesterday, she confirmed that gardaí had now given her back the keys to the house. Garda investigations into events at the party are continuing.
A 19-year-old-man who was arrested in Waterford on Tuesday morning and detained under section two of the Drugs Trafficking Act at Waterford Garda station has been released without charge.
