A young man who was seriously injured after his Halloween costume caught fire in a Galway niteclub has been moved to the burns unit at St James Hospital in Dublin.

21-year old Matthew Sheridan from Cabinteely, Dublin – a medical student at NUI Galway – received critical burns during a fancy-dress party at Halo niteclub in Galway city on Wednesday night.

It’s understood Mr Sheridan was wearing a home-made sheep costume, most of which was made from cotton wool.

Shortly after midnight, his costume caught fire inside the niteclub, and he received severe burns.

The emergency services were alerted and he was rushed by ambulance to University Hospital Galway.

He was transferred yesterday evening to St James Hospital where he’s said to be in a critical condition.

It’s understood Gardai are treating the incident as accidental, and have spoken to several students who attended the Halloween party.

NUI Galway has issued a statement, saying Mr Sheridan’s classmates, the medical school faculty and the wider university community were shocked to learn of the tragic circumstances in which he was seriously injured.