Stag party man who drank adrenaline ‘lucky to be alive’

A visit to Galway for a stag party could have proved fatal for a man who climbed in a hospital window and helped himself to two bottles of Adrenaline.

John Kane (24), from 154 Dundrum Road, Newcastle, Co Down, could not account for his actions and agreed he was lucky to be alive when questioned about the incident by Judge Mary Fahy at Galway District Court.

Kane, the court was told, had come to Galway with a group of friends for a stag party, but he became separated from them and could not recall how he ended up in the grounds of Merlin Park Hospital, and more specifically outside Unit 1, at 7.15p.m. on June 20 last.

Kane pleaded guilty to entering the unit as a trespasser and to stealing the two bottles of Adrenaline along with 20 Ibuprofen tablets and a scissors. Inspector Mick Dwyer said Kane climbed in a window in Unit 1 and drank a bottle of Adrenaline before deciding to drink another.

Security staff found Kane and called gardaí. When medical staff discovered Kane had ingested the hormone — which is produced naturally by the body in times of stress or excitement and prepares it for fight or flight by increasing the heart rate — they immediately admitted him and monitored his heart for eight hours.

“You are very lucky to be alive. I hope it’s a lesson to you,” Judge Fahy said to Kane. He nodded sheepishly.

Noting Kane had travelled from another jurisdiction to answer the case, had no previous convictions and was legally represented, Judge Fahy agreed not to convict him. With his consent, she directed the €750 Kane had lodged in bail money back in June, be transferred to the court poor box.