Ex-McDonald's franchise holder fined over student's death

A former McDonald's franchise holder was today fined £20,000 over the death of a student electrocuted by a damaged hand dryer.

Diamond Restaurants Ltd had already pleaded guilty to two charges under health and safety legislation and agreed to pay costs also totalling £20,000.

The indifference of staff members and failure to act responsibly is clearly indicative of poor safety management on the part of the administration of this company Lord Justice McCollum

Ms Ciara McGinley, 22, died after she touched live wires hanging from the dryer in the toilet of McDonald's restaurant on Bradbury Place, Belfast on June 11, 1998.

A language student at Queen's University, Belfast she had been celebrating the completion of her final exams.

Lord Justice McCollum said the staff had failed to act on three complaints about the dryer in the weeks leading up to Miss McGinley's death.

"The indifference of staff members and failure to act responsibly is clearly indicative of poor safety management on the part of the administration of this company," he said.

The company was fined £5,000 for endangering its own staff and a further £15,000 for failing to look after its customers.

-PA