A Co Antrim company has been charged with the corporate manslaughter and is to stand trial next year.
G&J Crothers, based at Tildarg Road in Doagh, has been charged with the corporate manslaughter of father of two Michael Beston on July 7th, 2013.
James Crothers, who along with his father is a partner in the company, appeared in dock of Belfast Crown Court as a representative of the firm for the arraignment hearing.
On behalf of the company, he pleaded not guilty to a single charge of “being an organisation to which the Corporate Manslaughter and Corporate Homicide Act 2007 applies, caused the death of Michael Beston in that he managed or organised his activities in a way, amounting to a gross breach of a relevant duty of care owed by him to Michael Beston”.
Belfast recorder Judge David McFarland set the trial for March 2015.