A Dublin man who was lying on the DART line in Clontarf on the day of Ireland's World Cup soccer match against Cameroon died when he was struck by a train, Dublin County Coroner's Court heard yesterday.
The jury at the inquest into the death of Mr Niall Joseph McHugh (26), Foxfield Grove, Raheny, returned a verdict of accidental death.
Mr McHugh died when he was struck by a train on the line between Corr Bridge and Claremont Beach in Clontarf on June 1st, 2002.
The County Coroner, Dr Kieran Geraghty, gave the cause of death as shock and multiple injuries due to being struck by a train.
Mr Damien Flood told the inquest that he had met Mr McHugh at 7.15 a.m. on June 1st in the Bloody Stream in Howth.
After the soccer match, they had moved outside and continued drinking throughout the day. He said: "I was drunk but I still had reality in my mind. Niall was a bit further on than me."
Mr Flood said that the last time he had seen Mr McHugh was at 6.15 p.m. when they had been eating their food in Howth.
Dr Geraghty asked Mr Flood if it was normal for them to drink so much. He replied: "It was the day that was in it."
Garda Sgt Noel Pepper said it was "a once-off incident". "All of the young people concerned are of the highest character."