Research should be undertaken into the safety of "stimulant" drinks such as Red Bull immediately, an inquest jury recommended last night.
The parents of a Limerick university student who collapsed and died during a basketball match after he had been drinking Red Bull last night welcomed the recommendation that the "relevant Irish authorities" carry out the research immediately.
Mr Joseph and Mrs Helen Cooney of Mallow Road, Limerick, said they earnestly hoped the recommendation would be adopted by the authorities and that the result of the research into the drinks would be published.
They were speaking after a daylong inquest at Dublin County Coroner's Court into the death of the eldest of their two children, Ross (18).
He was pronounced dead on November 20th, 1999, after he collapsed during an intervarsity basketball tournament at the National Basketball Arena in Tallaght.
A jury took less than an hour to record a verdict of death as a result of unexplained Sudden Adult Death Syndrome, a rare condition affecting about one in 300,000 people.
They had heard evidence from team mates of Ross from the University of Limerick that he had consumed up to three cans of Red Bull before he collapsed.
Red Bull is a carbonated non-alcoholic drink with caffeine "especially developed for times of increased stress or strain", according to the company.
Since its introduction here in 1995 it has recorded massive sales figures. Its first target market was clubbers, but it has crossed over to appeal to anybody who feels the need for a quick "lift".
The coroner, Dr Kieran Geraghty, was told an EU committee had concluded early last year that further study was needed to establish upper safety limits for consumption of two ingredients found in high-energy drinks such as Red Bull.
The inquest heard no evidence that Red Bull was responsible for Mr Cooney's death.
A representative of the company, Dr Volker Viechtbauer, said Red Bull was sold in 44 countries and had never been banned.
Last night the company issued a statement in which it said the proceedings had "demonstrated that Red Bull was by no means a contributing factor in the tragic death of Ross Cooney".
After the inquest the Cooney family said the past year had been difficult and upsetting and they hoped the inquest would close "this chapter of the story".