Student death was 'avoidable'

The inquiry was held at Edinburgh Sheriff Court

The death of an Irish student outside an Edinburgh pub has been described as "an avoidable tragedy" by a Sheriff.

And the bar's manager has been accused of "being dismissive of the potential hazards of alcohol".

Sheriff Mhairi Stephen was speking at the fatal accident inquiry into the death of the Irish mature student John O'Grady last September.

It is abundantly clear from the evidence all round that this tragic death could have been avoided

Sheriff Mhairi Stephen

She said the case had highlighted the light-hearted way alcohol was viewed by society as a whole.

"Offences related to drink are often applauded or seen as the subject of ridicule rather than concern," she said.

"It is abundantly clear from the evidence all round that this tragic death could have been avoided."

Mr McGrady, 33, from Stirling, died after inhaling his own vomit while unconscious.

He had spent the evening drinking in the bar before being found unconscious in a toilet cubicle at 0300 BST.

Doorman Leslie Healy, with the help of two others, carried him outside and left him on the pavement beside a refuse bag to sober up.

Pronounced dead

By the time police were called 45 minutes later Mr McGrady's breathing was shallow.

By the time an ambulance arrived he had started to turn blue and was pronounced dead in hospital at 0430 BST.

Solicitor-advocate Robert Carr, representing the dead man's family, blamed bar manager John McCullough, a friend of the dead man and a director of the firm which then owned the bar.

He said that other bar staff must also take responsibility for the death as all knew about Mr McGrady's state but did not call for an ambulance or monitor his condition.

But Mr McCullough was in overall charge and should shoulder the majority of the blame, he said.

Solicitor Laura McDonald, for Mr McCullough, said her client had been greatly affected by the tragdy and was now unemployed.

'Lessons learned'

She admitted that if an ambulance had been called when Mr McGrady was discovered slumped in the toilets, his death could probably have been avoided.

But she said it was unfair to blame Mr McCullough as he had not been informed of the seriousness of the situation.

Lessons had been learned and a system is now in place whereby the manager is told of any unconscious customer in the bar.

The Sheriff is due to give her findings at a later date.