Plumber on trial over gas poisoning death at hotel

The Kinsale hen party that ended with the death of a woman by gas poisoning in a hotel room was recalled for a judge and jury yesterday as a plumber who adjusted the gas boiler days earlier went on trial for manslaughter.

The late Miriam Reidy, aged 35, from Ballyhahill, Co Limerick, was one of a group of 30 friends attending a hen party weekend for her cousin in Kinsale.

The main location was the White House, where most of the women stayed. But as there wasn’t room for everyone, some went to the Trident Hotel.

Ms Reidy and her sister, Patricia Reidy-Russell, stayed in Room 113 and had come back at about 1am after no more than about two glasses of wine.

Ms Reidy-Russell heard a thud during the night and found that her sister had fallen out of bed. Both women felt unwell and could not figure it out as they had so little to drink.

At 4.25am, Ms Reidy-Russell Patricia texted their cousin Marie Reidy, asking: “Are you sick, we are bad and shaking?” When they did not improve, they called out a doctor.

Brendan Grehan, prosecuting, said Marie Reidy arrived on the scene and opened the window, a vital action as far as Ms Reidy-Russell’s health was concerned.

CPR was attempted on Miriam Reidy but it was too late.

Richard Davis, aged 44, from Serenity, Killanully, Ballygarvan, Co Cork, has pleaded not guilty to manslaughter.