Corporate Manslaughter bill to be introduced

The government are set to introduce a bill which could see managers of companies face prison time for the wrongful death of employees.

The two new offences that are planned to written in law are 'Grossly Negligent Management Causing Death' and 'Corporate Manslaughter'.

A senior management official could be charged with the former and could be given a jail sentance. A corporation could be charged with the latter resulting in a large fine.

"The Law Reform Commission has highlighted that there is a need for a law establishing corporate criminal liability for manslaughter," Justice Minister Dermot Ahern has said.

"I am conscious that gaps on the Statute Book may leave a bereaved family with no option but to pursue an action in the civil courts. Our laws must be robust in this area.

"While the criminal law route should only be used where death has occurred as a result of flagrant abuse of the safety standards expected of companies and their managers, it is desirable that the criminal law would reflect the strength of societal disapproval for such events."