Barmen on trial in landmark manslaughter case

TWO barmen at the Hayes Hotel in Thurles have become the first pub workers to be tried under new manslaughter laws after a customer celebrating his birthday drank so much he died of alcohol poisoning.

The dead man, who was from England, downed between eight and 10 spirits in a half-pint glass while showcasing his party trick and racing against a work mate drinking a half-pint of lager.

In the first case under the new liquor liability law, prosecutors said barman Aidan Dalton, aged 26, was given the okay by bar manager Gary Wright, aged 34, to serve the cocktail to a customer who had been drinking heavily for hours.