BY CIARAN TIERNEY

A celebratory Halloween night out in a city centre night club turned to horror for a second year medical student when his home-made fancy dress costume became engulfed in flames in front of hundreds of horrified revellers.

The NUI Galway student, named last night as Matthew Sheridan, suffered horrific burns after his costume turned into a ball of flames in the busy Halo night club on Abbeygate Street at about 12.20am.

Revellers looked on in horror as the popular young student, who had been enjoying a night out with friends, ran from the premises after what was described as a “very unfortunate” incident in the busy club.

The 20-year old student, a native of Cabinteely, Co Dublin, ran out the front door of the club before being transferred by ambulance to University Hospital Galway where his condition was described as “very critical”.

Yesterday, he was transferred to the burns unit at St James’ Hospital in Dublin, where he underwent specialist treatment in a bid to save his life.

It is understood that the fire may have resulted from a prank, instigated by another student, which went horribly wrong and that a number of people who witnessed the incident in the night club came forward with information for Gardai at Mill Street Station yesterday.

Gardai are investigating the full circumstances surrounding the tragic accident and have examined CCTV footage from the night club. Witnesses described a “human fireball” when the costume went up in flames.

“It is understood that he is in a critical condition. The cause of the incident is currently being investigated by Gardai,” said a spokesman, who did not wish to comment further.

For more on this story, see the Galway City Tribune.