Pubs told by jury: Take better care of clients

PUBS should take their duty of care towards their clients more seriously, the jury recommended at an inquest into the death of a teenager who died after he was struck by a car after being sent out of a nightclub because he was intoxicated.

Mark David Flood, a 19-year-old student, of Castleknock Park, Dublin, was out with work colleagues for a post-Christmas party on Saturday, January 19, last.

The group, from the Blanchardstown Shopping Centre where Mr Flood had a part-time job, met in the Grasshopper Pub, Clonee, Co Meath, at 9.30pm and went to the Vortex nightclub at the County Club, Dunshaughlin, a short time before midnight.

One of his colleagues, Brendan Graham, said when they arrived in the club he saw Mr Flood go to sit at seats at the bar and he thought he fell asleep there, as he had been nodding off earlier. The rest of the group got a round, but Mr Flood did not have a drink.

A short time later, Mr Graham saw bouncers in the club talking to Mr Flood and that was the last time he saw him, he told the inquest at Dublin County Coroner’s Court yesterday.

A barman also witnessed Mr Flood with his head on his arms and asked a bouncer to keep an eye on him.

Between 12.10am and 12.15am three separate motorists witnessed an intoxicated man staggering at the side of the N3 Dunshaughlin to Dublin road, walking towards Dunshaughlin.

One motorist, Edward McAuley, called gardaí to report a man who he felt was a danger on the road because someone would hit him. “It was very dark. He had nothing luminous on him and was difficult to see. I did get scared because I was so close to him,” said Mr McAuley.

Gardaí responded immediately, but in the meantime the fatal incident occurred.

Hackney driver, Philip McMahon, had collected a young man to bring him to the nightclub at 12.15am and was coming to a road near the club when a person walked out from the side of the road in front of his car.

“I had no chance. He just appeared from nowhere,” said Mr McMahon.

His passenger, Patrick Slevin, in a statement said the driver had no time to react and there was no chance of avoiding the man.

Mr Flood died of shock due to multiple skeletal and soft tissue injuries.

He was taken to James Connolly Memorial Hospital, Blanchardstown, where he was pronounced dead at 1.30am.

A toxicology screening revealed he had consumed a lot of alcohol, with 326 milligrams per 100 millilitres of blood in his system.

Sergeant Paul Tennanty of Dunshaughlin Garda Station told the inquest he was satisfied that Mr Flood was brought out of the nightclub into a car park for air. It would be regular practice to bring people who are intoxicated outside for air and let them back in later.

Staff said they tried to get Mr Flood a taxi and he refused, said Sgt Tennanty.

The jury returned a verdict of death by misadventure under the direction of the coroner Dr Kieran Geraghty and said licensed premises should take their duty of care towards their clients more seriously.

Dr Geraghty also called on young people who are drinking to look after each other more. “No one kept an eye on him,” he said.

Speaking outside the inquest, Mr Flood’s uncle, Joseph Callanan, called on pub and nightclub owners to make sure that people who are asked to leave premises due to intoxication either have someone with them or are put in a taxi.