TD critical of hotel where employee was murdered

The hotel where a trainee manager was murdered last year by a colleague was criticised in the Dáil for its failure to provide adequate protection for her.

Labour's consumer affairs spokeswoman, Ms Kathleen Lynch, said the hotel "must share some responsibility for the tragedy" and demanded that it explain how Ms Grainne Dillon ended up having sole responsibility for running one of the biggest hotels in the State.

Ms Dillon (24) was killed on January 5th last year in the Jury's Inn Hotel in Limerick by a colleague.

Paulo Nascimento, a Portuguese national, was sentenced to life imprisonment earlier this month for the murder.

The Labour TD said that the trainee manager had only six months' experience yet was left "in sole charge of more than 300 guests on the night in question".

She asked what would have happened if a fire had broken out in the hotel and said people "must now sit up and take notice of the risks hoteliers are taking with their safety".

Ms Dillon's duties took her away from the hotel front desk but that was the only area where there was a panic button.

"She was doing a diligent, thorough job for her employers. However, Grainne's employers failed to match the dedication and hard work she displayed by not providing adequate protection for their employee".

Given "that the hotel group in question has recently announced record profits, it is not as if it cannot afford to provide adequate security for all its guests and staff".

Ms Lynch also criticised the Health and Safety Authority, the agency charged with "ensuring employers take all necessary steps to protect their employees".

The authority continually maintained it was a matter for the Garda, but they had done their job and it was time the authority "does its job", she said.

The Minister of State for Finance, Mr Tom Parlon, said health and safety inspectors check workplaces for a safety statement and the extent of its implementation.

"The authority does not categorise hotels as high-risk workplaces and would only inspect hotels on complaint about health and safety conditions".

He added, however, that the Minister of State for Enterprise, Mr Frank Fahey, would introduce a new Bill on safety, health and welfare at work later this year, which would emphasise "in a much stronger manner, the elements of safety management, training and consultation".

The Minister "is keenly aware of the need for increased penalties and the Bill will address this issue".