Hit-and-run victim was four times over limit

A pedestrian who died after a hit and run was more than four times over the legal limit for alcohol.

At an inquest into the death of Tomas Nowakowski, 38, Marie Cassidy, the State pathologist, said yesterday that evidence of acute alcohol intoxication was a contributory cause to his death.

At the inquest in Ennis, Prof Cassidy said that Mr Nowakowski’s alcohol levels were 375mg of alcohol per 100ml of blood — drivers found to be in excess of 80mg of alcohol per 100ml of blood face a one-year ban on first conviction.