The manager of Hayes Hotel in Thurles, Co Tipperary, has told a manslaughter trial that staff employed at the hotel must take all reasonable steps to ensure the safety and care of employees and guests and other people on the premises.
Gerry McGovern, who has been manager of the hotel for the past 22 years, was giving evidence at the trial of hotel bar manager Gary Wright and barman Aidan Dalton.
The two are charged with the unlawful killing of hotel guest Graham Parish on 30 June 2008.
Both men, who have addresses at Borrisoleigh, Co Tipperary, have denied the charge.
Mr Parish died from acute alcoholic poisoning at the hotel after he drank a cocktail of between eight and ten spirits in one go that night.
He was found dead in an upstairs hotel function room early the following morning.
Mr McGovern said that when people went to the bar, staff had to observe their demeanour regarding the serving of alcohol.
They had to see if customers were in a condition to be served, and if they were unsteady on their feet or being a nuisance, they were not to be served.
However he admitted that neither of the two accused men had received any training on potentially dangerous dosages or amounts of alcohol. He described the two men as very good and trustworthy workers who are still employed at the hotel.
The trial also heard from Garda Margaret Leahy, who works at Thurles and who went to the hotel on the morning of 1 July 2008.
She said she found a male lying on the floor of a function room upstairs, who she described as ‘cold to the touch, whose skin was blue and who had no pulse.’
Garda Leahy also took possession of an original till receipt from the hotel bar, which listed the drinks which had been served from 6.25pm to 10.51pm the night the victim had been at the bar.
The receipt showed that several groups of pints had been served at various times that night, and at 10.39pm, shortly before the last drink was served, it showed that €30 cash was paid for a number of shorts.
She said this would tally with eight shorts or four doubles being bought at that time.
The trial before a jury of six men and six women has been adjourned until next Tuesday.
