The Health and Safety Authority (HSA) has said it found no evidence to warrant a prosecution of Jurys Hotel, Limerick, following the murder of an employee, Ms Gráinne Dillon, last year.
Ms Dillon (24), a trainee hotel manager, was shot by a night porter who had just robbed €3,000 from the hotel, on January 5th, 2002.
Portuguese national Paulo Nascimento was jailed for life for the crime earlier this year.
The family had called on the HSA to investigate the health and safety conditions at the hotel, with a view to a possible prosecution under the Safety, Health and Welfare at Work Act 1989.
Yesterday, the Dillon family said they were "devastated and very disappointed" with the report but were not surprised.
"It will always be our belief that if Gráinne had been better protected at work, she would be alive today," Gráinne's father, Mr Michael Dillon, said.
His wife Pat said the family had battled for proceedings to be brought because they wanted the HSA to effect changes in work practices throughout the hotel industry.
A spokesman for Jurys Doyle hotel group said it was aware that the HSA investigation into the circumstances of the death had been completed and that no further action will be undertaken. "It would be inappropriate to comment any further other than to express our very sincere sympathies to the Dillon family at what is undoubtedly a very difficult time for them," he said.
The HSA said its investigation had concluded last Friday and had found no evidence to warrant a prosecution and no further action would ensue.
Mr Tom Beegan, HSA chief executive, said it was a "source of regret to the authority that the Dillon family still has reservations about the nature of our involvement in the case". The HSA had taken the correct course of action at every stage.
"Furthermore, the Health and Safety Authority did not intervene at an early stage as any unnecessary involvement in the case during the murder investigation risked prejudicing the outcome of the murder trial," Mr Beegan said.
"We reiterate our deep regret at the tragic death of Gráinne Dillon, and we sympathise with the suffering and deep sense of loss felt by her family," he said.
Ms Dillon's family has urged the Minister for Justice, Mr McDowell, not to allow Nascimento to return to Portugal to serve the rest of his sentence.
Some weeks ago, the prisoner lodged an application for his repatriation to Portugal.