The Health and Safety Authority (HSA) has begun an investigation into the murder of an employee of Jury's Inn in Limerick despite a murder conviction being secured by gardaí.
Ms Grainne Dillon (24), a trainee assistant manager at the hotel on the Dock Road in the city, was murdered by colleague Paulo Alexander Nascimento (27).
Nascimento, a former member of the Portuguese army, was sentenced to life in prison last March after pleading guilty to shooting Ms Dillon in the breast, thigh and lower pelvic area at point-blank range.
The murder happened while both were working in the hotel on January 5th, 2002. Ms Dillon, originally from Cork, had interrupted Nascimento while he was robbing €3,000 from the hotel safe. He then shot her on three separate occasions between 4 a.m. and 5 a.m.
The trial judge described the murder as the most vicious and callous crime he had ever encountered.
Ms Dillon's sister, Áine, told the Special Criminal Court trial of Naciemento, that she held Jury's Group "criminally negligent" in the case, and her family called on the HSA to launch its own investigation.
Shortly after the trial, Cork TD Ms Kathleen Lynch criticised Jury's, saying they "must share some responsibility for the tragedy".The Labour spokeswoman on consumer affairs told the Dáil last March: "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".Ms Lynch also criticised the HSA, which she said was responsible for "ensuring employers take all necessary steps to protect their employees". She said that as the Garda inquiry had ended the authority should investigate.The HSA today announced an investigation has begun with results expected in three weeks. The authority said it could not investigate earlier because it may have prejudiced the case against Nascimento.
Mr Tom Beegan, chief executive of the HSA said: "The HSA has met with members of the Dillon family and their legal adviser in order to express our condolences on their tragic loss, to set out and explain the legal position of the authority and to take on board any additional information which would help our current investigation".
The HSA said it could not make further comment until the investigation concludes.
Ms Dillon's family plan to picket the hotel this evening.