Man to appear in court after powder find at Waterford party

A 25-year-old man will appear in court tomorrow after a house party ended in panic with more than a dozen people hospitalised.

Two men remain in a critical condition at Waterford Regional Hospital (WRH) after apparently taking a cocktail of drugs at the 21st birthday celebrations in the city.

Gardaí have since confirmed a white powder removed from the house at Ballybeg Square was not toxic.

John Grey (aged 23) and 21-year-old Kevin Doyle - who recently battled cancer - are fighting for their lives in intensive care.

Gardaí were called to the address in the early hours of Sunday after a fleet of ambulances ferried partygoers to the hospital.

Initially, 15 people were treated at the emergency department with three young men falling critically ill. The third man improved and was discharged from hospital today.

The 25-year-old was arrested by gardaí on Sunday afternoon on suspicion of possession and supply of a controlled drug. He will appear before Waterford District Court.

A 19-year-old man was also arrested this morning in Waterford City in relation to the same incident, and is being detained under section 2 of the Drug Trafficking Act.