Two barmen have today walked free from court after being acquitted of the manslaughter of a hotel guest from Nelson who drank himself to death.

A judge ruled Gary Wright and Aidan Dalton were not responsible for the death of Graham Parish, who died after downing a lethal cocktail of shots in one glass in Hayes Hotel, Thurles, Co Tipperary, on June 30 2008.

The landmark prosecution was the first case of its kind under the liquor liability laws ever taken in the Irish Republic.

At Nenagh Circuit Court today, Judge Thomas Teehan directed the jury to return a not guilty verdict.

The judge said the State had proved Mr Wright, the bar manager, and barman Aidan Dalton had a duty of care to Mr Parish, had breached that duty of care and that their negligence was gross.

But he found their negligence was not the cause of the victim's death as Mr Parish took the decision to have the drink.

Mr Wright, 34, and Mr Dalton, 28, who are from Kilfithmone, Borrisoleigh, in Co Tipperary, faced up to life in jail if convicted.

Their family and friends wept in court as the case was dramatically struck out.

The father of two, from Calder Terrace in Lomeshaye, Nelson, was celebrating his 26th birthday and birth of his second child the night he died.

The six-day trial heard that Mr Parish had been drinking heavily in the hotel bar with five British contractors who were working in a meat processing plant in the area.

He consumed about nine pints of lager and Guinness, including downing two pints with shots of vodka in them without his knowledge, before knocking back the cocktail of shots.

It is understood double shots of Baileys, Southern Comfort, Jack Daniels and gin were in the glass.

Both Mr Wright, a barman for 13 years, and Mr Dalton, who had worked in pubs for 10 years, later told investigators they believed the drink would be shared with his friends.

Within minutes of drinking the mix Mr Parish, who was 6ft 3in, slumped off his bar stool and four friends who tried to carry him to bed left him on the floor of a conference room, where he died of acute alcohol poisoning.

His body was found by a night porter shortly after 6am the following day.

Judge Teehan said the courts place a high importance on individual responsibility when it comes to the consumption of alcohol.

He said an accused person in a criminal case could not use alcohol as an excuse or defence, even if they could not remember, and the same applied in this case.

"A decision was taken by Mr Parish, even after Mr Dalton and Mr Wright came to the conclusion that the drink should be served," said Judge Teehan.

"He then took the decision to consume that drink and that was a supervening event to break the chain of causation."