COCAINE WAS “freely available” from a bag on the kitchen table at a Waterford house party where two men collapsed and later died in hospital, a court has been told.
The mother of one of the men who died has denied she allowed drugs to be sold or handed out at the party which was held in her house.
Betty Grey (48), Ballybeg Square, Waterford city, has pleaded not guilty at Carlow Circuit Court to permitting the sale, supply or distribution of cocaine at her home on November 25th, 2007.
The court yesterday that heard partygoers “started dropping in convulsions” and began “frothing at the mouth” after taking a “gooey white substance” which was shared among people attending the party.
John Grey (23) died in hospital 16- days after he fell into a coma in the early hours of November 25th.
Kevin Doyle (21), Viewmount, Dunmore Road, Waterford, also died in hospital following the party at Ms Grey’s house.
Noel Whelan, prosecuting, told a jury it was the State’s case that Ms Grey knew cocaine was being consumed and that she permitted the drug to be handed out at the party.
Mr Whelan said a party started in Ms Grey’s house at about 1am following the 21st birthday party of her son Mark at the Ultimate bar in Waterford.
The court heard “cocaine was available freely” at the house and that at about 4.30am, people started “dropping in convulsions”; four or five people were rushed to hospital in a collapsed state “frothing at the mouth”.
One partygoer, Stephen O’Sullivan, gave evidence that he saw a bag of cocaine “like candle wax” on the kitchen table and said “fellas were shoving it down their throats with their hands”.
Another man, Paul Swift, said he saw one man “fall off the stairs and land in the hall” and that “people started collapsing around the house”.
Mr Swift said he saw a bag of “pasty white material” on the kitchen table. He said he also saw Ms Grey in the kitchen with about 20 other people.
Michelle Kelly said about 15 people were taking the white powder in a bedroom upstairs and that Ms Grey was not upstairs when the drugs were being taken.
Claire Cassidy (24) appeared before the court on a related charge yesterday.
She has denied permitting the sale, supply or distribution of amphetamine at her house at Ardmore Park, Ballybeg, Waterford, on the same date.
The trial continues today.