An inquest into the death of Brian Rossiter has been told there was panic in Clonmel Garda station when he was found unconscious in a cell six years ago.
The 14-year-old was found unconscious in a cell in Clonmel Garda station on 11 September 2002.
He had been arrested the night before for an alleged public order offence and died two days later at Cork University Hospital.
The inquest into his death first opened five years ago, but has been adjourned several times since.
Today one of the teenager's friends withdrew a statement he made six years ago to gardaí.
On the day after Brian was assaulted by local man Noel Hannigan, Brian's friend Willie Sheehan told gardaí that Brian had taken one or two ecstasy tablets with drink and that there was hash in the flat they were in too.
However, today he told Cork City Coroner Dr Myra Cullinane that he was withdrawing that statement.
He told her he had been doing a lot of drugs at the time.
He said the events he described at the time, and when they happened, might not be accurate.
Mary Furlong, a friend of Brian's mother Siobhan, told the inquest how she had noticed a red mark the size of a €2 coin on Brian's left cheek when she visited him in hospital.
She said that mark had not been there earlier in the week.
Asked by Stephen Burns, Counsel for the Garda Commissioner why she had not mentioned this in her statement to gardaí at the time, she said she did not know why.
Although later the same day she had mentioned it to the family's solicitor in a statement to him.
Another friend of Brian's, Faye Ahern-Fitzsimmons, said she met him the day after the assault and he had complained of headaches telling her that Mr Hannigan had headbutted and kneed him in the face a number of times.
Her sister Addie later told the court that when she asked Brian if he would go to the doctor, he said he was alright that it was only a beating.
She said she noticed the swelling on his forehead and his black eyes but did not see any sign of the mark that Ms Furlough said she saw later in the week.
He seemed normal to them she said.
Brian's sister Sharon told the inquest that she found Brian bent over with blood coming from him after he had been assaulted outside her house in Clonmel by Mr Hannigan.
She screamed at Mr Hannigan to stop hitting him.
Asked by Mr O'Carroll what he was like in the following days, she said he looked very bad but he was going around normally.
He also asked her if she was the one who told the State Pathologist that Brian's headaches had been on the increase. She said she had not.
Witness unable to attend
Earlier, the inquest was told that a garda witness whose evidence is considered of great importance by the family will not be attending because of an ongoing medical condition.
Mary Ellen Ring SC, who is representing six of the seven gardaí involved in the case, said a medical cert had been given to the court on behalf of Garda Anthony Flynn.
Rossiter family solicitor Cian O'Carroll said Garda Flynn had been in charge in Clonmel Garda station on the night Brian was removed from the cell and he believed his evidence was of great importance.
Cork City Coroner Dr Cullinane said she would reserve her position on the garda's evidence and inability to attend.
She had earlier accepted a medical certificate on behalf of a retired Garda McMahon, saying she had reviewed his statement and was satisfied that he is not absolutely necessary to the inquest.
Over 30 witnesses, including medical experts for the Rossiter family, will give evidence before the Cork City Coroner.
The inquest has adjourned for the evening. It is expected to take eight days.
