Gardaí are awaiting the result of tests on a drugs cocktail that has left two young men critically ill and 13 more requiring medical attention. One theory being followed locally is that the powdery substance taken by the group, who were attending a 21st birthday party, contained the horse tranquilliser ketamine.
Gardaí in Waterford have arrested a man in connection with the illness of the 15 people after a house party in Ballybeg Square on Saturday night.
The 25-year-old man was arrested in Waterford city yesterday afternoon under Section 15 of the Misuse of Drugs Act. He was being detained at Tramore Garda Station last night under the provisions of Section 2 of the Criminal Justice (Drug Trafficking ) Act.
Three people were initially being treated as critically ill at Waterford Regional Hospital yesterday, but one rallied during the day and was in a stable condition last night.
Eleven others were treated in the hospital before being discharged.
Gardaí and a fleet of ambulances rushed to a house at Ballybeg Square in the city at about 5.20am yesterday, where they came across a number of young people in a very distressed condition.
Betty Grey, the mother of one of the critically ill men, John Grey (23), said that a group of men had gone to a pub in the city centre in Waterford on Saturday to celebrate the 21st birthday of her son Mark.
She said when about 30 people returned to her house for a party her son John collapsed in the hall. Then she learned "another chap was in trouble upstairs".
She said her children were no angels but said her son John did not deserve to be in a coma.
"Drugs run this town. I don't condone drugs -- John took them, that's it. He paid the consequences. But he didn't deserve to be in a coma."
Supt Dave Sheahan, who is leading the investigation, confirmed that an undisclosed quantity of drugs was found at the house.
He said gardaí and the HSE were encouraging any local youths who may have been at the house party to present themselves to Waterford Regional Hospital or to their local GP if they were suffering from rapid heartbeat or nausea. "My concern is that anybody who was at the house present themselves in hospital," he added.
"They shouldn't take it lightly. They should go to the A&E or contact their medical practitioner."
He said three men aged 21, 23 and 25 were initially critically ill, but one was stable by yesterday afternoon. Gardaí yesterday interviewed a number of the individuals who were at the party and door-to-door inquiries were carried out at Ballybeg Square and surrounding areas.
Supt Sheahan said the incident was a "worrying development" and that every effort would be made to determine what had happened in the early hours of yesterday morning.
He added that gardaí were unsure at this stage as to what drugs were taken and in what sorts of quantities.
The drugs were last night being analysed at the Garda Laboratory in Dublin.
Anyone with information about the incident is asked to contact gardaí in Waterford Garda station on 051- 305300.