BLOOD ALCOHOL levels in the case of an Englishman who died after consuming 10 pints and between eight and 10 shots of spirits while celebrating his birthday in Co Tipperary could have become elevated after his death, a trial was told yesterday.
Two bar staff are on trial for his manslaughter.
Former clinical director at the National Poisons Information Centre, Dr Joseph Treacy, said blood alcohol levels at the time of Graham Parish’s postmortem were not a definitive diagnostic tool as they could vary greatly depending on a number of factors.
Dr Treacy said variations depended on how soon after certification of death that a postmortem was conducted. He said putrefaction after death could lead to generation of alcohol and changes in blood alcohol levels.
Dr Treacy was giving evidence on the fourth day of the trial of bar manager at Hayes Hotel in Thurles, Gary Wright (34), and barman at the hotel, Aidan Dalton (28), who are charged with the manslaughter of Mr Parish (26).
The State alleges Mr Wright and Mr Dalton, both with addresses at Kilfithmone, Borrisoleigh, Co Tipperary, were guilty of “gross negligence” in allowing Mr Parish to be served a single drink containing at least eight measures of spirits on June 30th, 2008.
The trial at Nenagh Circuit Criminal Court had previously heard evidence that Mr Parish, a civil engineer from Calder Terrace, Lomeshaye village near Nelson in east Lancashire, had come to Thurles to work at the Dew Valley meat plant.
Mr Parish, a father of two, had begun drinking with five other English colleagues who were also staying at Hayes Hotel. At about 10pm, a short was put in his pint, and he drank it.
Witness Craig Bateson had earlier told the court that a drinking competition started and Mr Parish said he could down several spirits faster than any of the others could down a half pint of lager, and the barman brought down the shots.
He told the court that Mr Parish drank the shots in one go and that about 10 minutes later, Mr Parish fell off the stool. They picked him up and brought him to an upstairs conference room, where they left him lying asleep on his side and snoring.
The court earlier heard that Mr Parish was found unconscious by night porter Philip Mahony in the upstairs conference room and the emergency services were called, but Mr Parish was pronounced dead at 7.15am on July 1st.
The trial had also earlier heard from pathologist Dr Stephen Finn who carried out a postmortem later that day at Limerick Regional Hospital. He found Mr Parish had a blood alcohol level of 375mg and died from acute alcohol intoxication.
Dr Treacy earlier told the trial that this was a very high level of alcohol and that for somebody of Mr Parish’s weight of about 100kg, a fatal dose of alcohol would be between 400mg and 800mg per 100ml.
Yesterday Dr Treacy told Mr Wright’s counsel, Michael Delaney SC, that a study of 100 people admitted to a Belfast hospital found that 80 per cent were conscious despite having blood alcohol levels of 400-600mg per 100ml, and all had survived.
Dr Treacy said blood alcohol levels could go up or down after death. “It seems to be very variable,” he said.
The case continues.
