SA bar manager fined $9k for supplying liquor to drunk footballer, later found dead

Tom Gardner and Allison Selleck were found guilty of supplying liquor to a noticeably alcohol-impaired person.

A South Australian hotel manager has been fined $9,000 for supplying alcohol to an already drunk footballer who was later found dead at the same hotel.

Tom Gardner, 32, the manager of Kingston's Crown Inn Hotel, licensee Firstlite and bar staff member Allison Louise Selleck, 22, were found guilty of supplying liquor to a noticeably alcohol-impaired person last month, and were fined a total of $15,000.

In May 2011 Jason Short, who played for Kingston Saints, was found dead in an upstairs bedroom of the hotel in the state's south-east.

In sentencing Magistrate Paul Foley said he had relied on CCTV footage from the hotel's front bar and said from the vision it was obvious Mr Short was intoxicated when he was served alcohol by Gardner just after 11:00pm and by Selleck about 12:00am.

The Magistrate said Mr Short's "state of impairment was significant and noticeable" and while "the bar was busy on a Saturday night following a football match", staff should have identified Mr Short was drunk.

Selleck was fined $500 but no conviction was recorded.

Magistrate Foley said Gardner as the hotel's manager should have known better.

"Mr Gardner, your role is very different to that of Ms Selleck," he said.

"You are and have been the driving force of the hotel for many years. You were the responsible person when both of these offences occurred."

Magistrate Foley said the hotel had made significant changes since Mr Short's death.

"Since the incident, the level of training in responsible service has been increased," he said.

"The hotel itself is regarded highly by the local community."

Gardner was fined $9,000 and Firstlite $6,000.

Both had convictions recorded.

Source : ABC News   Loukas Founteen October 30th, 2014