A Dublin teenager died from a stab wound to the chest 11 days before he was due to sit his Leaving Cert, an inquest has been told.
Seán Nolan (18), Griffith Court, Fairview, was on a night out with friends to celebrate finishing school when he was fatally stabbed on Waterloo Road, Ballsbridge, on May 26th last.
Garda Pat Moolick of Irishtown station, who attended the scene, told Dublin City Coroner's Court yesterday that when he arrived, a number of ambulance personnel from Donnybrook were attempting to resuscitate Mr Nolan.
He said these efforts continued while he was in the ambulance on the way to St Vincent's hospital, but he could not say for certain whether there were any signs of life at the time.
The ambulance arrived at the hospital at 4.23am and Mr Nolan was pronounced dead at 4.40am.
A postmortem by State Pathologist Prof Marie Cassidy found that Mr Nolan died from a stab wound to the chest with an injury to the heart, the court heard.
Mr Nolan's mother, Charlotte Nolan, who was in court yesterday with her husband, Michael, said it was important to her to find out where her son died.
Coroner Dr Brian Farrell told the Nolan family that he "would endeavour" to find out where he died, but he was unable to make any further comment on the matter because a file had been submitted to the Director of Public Prosecutions.
Dr Farrell expressed his condolences, on his own behalf, on behalf of the coroner's court and on behalf of the wider community, to the Nolan family on their tragic loss.
"I'm sure this has been a devastating tragedy for all members of the family. I don't know how you are going to bear this, but Mr and Mrs Nolan, I hope you will find the strength."
He adjourned the inquest until February 2008, following an application by Insp Kevin Dolan of Donnybrook Garda station, who said the matter was the subject of a criminal investigation.
Mr Nolan had just graduated from St Joseph's CBS in Fairview, on the day he was killed. It is believed he was with friends on Waterloo Road and had asked for directions to a party before the incident occurred.