Publicans ‘had no duty of care’ to death crash victim

THE High Court has ruled two publicans had no duty of care to an elderly man whom they had served drink prior to his death in a crash in which one other person was killed.

In what had been described as “a groundbreaking” action, Mr Justice Kevin Feeney yesterday dismissed a claim that bar owners Seamus and Concepta Kelly had acted negligently in serving up to six pints of stout to John Connolly, 79, and not preventing him from driving a car, which was involved in a collision after he left the Kellys’ bar.

The Kellys, the judge ruled, did not owe the duty of care claimed to John Connolly and that duty could not be extended to those killed or injured as a result of his driving.