Barmen charged over unlawful killing of Nelson man (From Burnley and Pendle Citizen)

Barmen charged over unlawful killing of Nelson man

4:42pm Thursday 29th October 2009

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TWO BARMEN have been charged with the unlawful killing of a Nelson man who died of acute alcohol intoxication after celebrating his birthday in one of Ireland’s most famous hotels.

Bar manager Gary Wright, 32, and barman Aidan Dalton, 27, appeared in Thurles District Court, in Co Tipperary, charged with the manslaughter of Graham Parish, of Calder Terrace, Lomeshaye, Nelson, contrary to common law, on July 1 2008. The men were both working at the landmark Hayes Hotel in Thurles where Mr Parish, 26, had been socialising on the night of his death.

The criminal case, the first one of ‘liquor liability’ in Ireland, has been brought against the pair, following a lengthy investigation by Gardai, the Irish police. Mr Parish had been a resident in Hayes Hotel on the night of June 30, into July 1, 2008.

It is understood the young man choked to death on his own vomit following a night’s socialising at the hotel. He had celebrated his 26th birthday on June 30 and died as a result of acute alcohol intoxication.

Both of the defendants, who gave addresses at Kilfithmone, Borrisleigh, Co Tipperary, were charged with the unlawful killing of Mr Parish on formal directions of the Director of Public Prosecutions, the Irish equivalent of the Crown Prosecution Service.

They appeared in court to face the manslaughter charges following a mammoth and complex 16-month investigation led by Superintendent Tony Cogan of Thurles gardai station.

Judge Tom O’Donnell granted both defendants bail and ordered them to appear before the same court again next month for service of the book of evidence.

Hayes Hotel is located in Liberty Square in Thurles and is a popular haunt of Gaelic Athletic Association (GAA) supporters.

The GAA was founded in the hotel on November 1, 1884, when it was known as the Commercial Hotel.

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