Six treated in hospital after gas alert at club

Gardaí are investigating an incident at a Galway city nightclub early yesterday in which six people had to be taken to hospital because of gas inhalation.

A preliminary investigation suggests that a gas canister may have been sprayed on the premises.

Six people were taken to University College Hospital, Galway, after customers at the Venue nightclub in Eyre Square complained of a gas-like odour at about 1 a.m..

Customers in the club's upper level complained of nausea and dizziness and staff organised an evacuation.

The emergency services were notified and ambulances took the six people to hospital. All were discharged several hours later. Non-essential electrical appliances at the nightclub were shut down and clubbers were refunded their admission charge.

There was no evidence of a gas leak yesterday during initial examinations by gardaí.

Gardaí said they were keeping an open mind and intended to interview those taken to hospital, and other people who had been present on the premises

A spokesman for The Venue stressed that the club had been evacuated for safety reasons.