A man who took part in a drinking competition subsequently died from alcohol poisoning, an inquest into his death heard yesterday.
Mr Patrick McGuinness (45), of Blakestown, Ardee, Co Louth, had a blood-alcohol reading of 483/100 millilitres, according to a pathologist, Dr John Ryan, who concluded death was due to acute alcohol toxicity.
The inquest in Drogheda heard how Mr Thomas Lynch, a neighbour of the deceased, had been called to Mr McGuinness's house by a woman who had been staying there for the weekend. Mr Lynch went into the bedroom and found him lying face down on the bed; he appeared to be dead. He rang the Garda station in Ardee.
Garda Gerry Carolan, Ardee, said the woman told him she had stayed the weekend in the house and the dead man had drunk a large amount of alcohol the previous day, September 18th last year.
She had put him to bed around 7.40 p.m. and when she checked him at 10 p.m. he was sleeping. She checked him again at around 7 a.m. but could get no response. She then went to Mr Lynch's house. The garda said a doctor was called to the house and pronounced Mr McGuinness dead at the scene at 8.20 a.m.
Dr Ryan told the court a neighbour had called to Mr McGuinness's house and the two entered a bet about drinking neat vodka.
The Louth County Coroner, Mr Ronan Maguire, adjourned the inquest.