Inquest into student’s drowning

A YOUNG man drowned moments after he called to his friends for help an inquest heard yesterday.

Student Kevin Byrne, 22, of Ballymacar, New Ross, Co Wexford, died after he got into difficulty while swimming in the River Barrow at Graiguenamanagh, Co Kilkenny, shortly after 6pm on June 3, 2009.

Kilkenny Coroner’s Court heard Kieran Phelan say he recovered Mr Byrne’s body from the riverbed in about 10ft of water. The inquest was adjourned yesterday until April 21 awaiting evidence from pathologist Dr Maurice Murphy.