Youths hospitalised after drinking poison liquid

Four young men were being treated in a Dublin hospital today after drinking a mystery toxic liquid during Hallowe’en night celebrations.

The incident happened on Dorset St at around 12.30am when the group swigged from a bottle passed around by another unknown person, while they sat around a bonfire.

One possibility being considered was that the bottle contained some form of acid.

The four in hospital were aged between 15 and 23 years. Three of them swallowed part of the contents of the bottle, but the fourth spat it out after seeing the effect it had on the others.

All four were in intensive care units at two Dublin hospitals, and one was said to be seriously ill - the others were described as stable.

In another part of the city gardai were called to deal with early morning celebrating that turned violent.

Passing cars were stoned, efforts were made to set fire to vehicles and missiles were hurled at police officers and firemen by some of the 100 youths involved.