A court yesterday ordered two men to pay almost €200,000 in damages to the heirs of a young man who died after taking ecstasy pills before going to a party in late 1998.

Francis and Lourdes Schembri and their children Roderick and Rita sued Josef Farrugia and Joseph Scicluna for damages after their son’s death.

Mr and Mrs Schembri told the court that their son, Sammy, had collapsed on the dance floor. He died on his way to hospital. He was 22 years old.

It was confirmed that he had died after consuming the drug ecstasy, which he had bought from Mr Farrugia who, in turn, had bought it from Mr Scicluna.

Madam Justice Felice heard that the victim and two of his friends had decided to buy and take ecstasy before going to the party. They had consumed the drug in the car while on their way to the party.

The court exonerated the owners of Gianpula and the party organiser from any responsibility for the death particularly in view of the fact that Mr Schembri and his friends had taken the drug before going to the party.

It resulted that the police had inspected Gianpula before the party took place and were satisfied that there were water fountains and a medical team on site.

The court also exonerated Mr Schembri’s two friends from responsibility for the death.

Madam Justice Felice said that Johann and Hubert Mifsud had taken ecstasy with Mr Schembri but there was nothing to prove that they bore any blame for his death.

The court held both Mr Farrugia and Mr responsible for Mr Schembri’s death.

But the court also found that Mr Schembri bore some responsibility for his death because he had voluntarily purchased and consumed an illegal drug that was known to be potentially dangerous.

The court found that the damages resulting from Mr Schembri’s death amounted to €289,625. Mr Schembri was found to bear one-third responsibility for what had occurred and so Mr Farrugia and Mr Scicluna were ordered to pay Mr Schembri’s heirs €96,542 in damages each.