The former manageress of a pub where a woman died after falling down the stairs into a cellar has spoken of her relief the brewery has been held to account in court - but said her friend would be forever missed. Kellie McGarry was in charge of the Rosehill Tavern in Westhoughton when Elaine Horrocks fell down the stairs into a staff-only cellar on January 13, 2018. Ms Horrocks suffered a fractured skull and died the following day due to her injuries.
Health and safety charges were brought against Ms McGarry following the death, but were dropped after four and a half years in 2022 . Joseph Holt Ltd pleaded guilty to health and safety breaches and were ordered to pay a fine of £180k plus £65k in legal costs on August 5 . Kellie, who had known Elaine since she was 16, said: "I just know that she is greatly missed around Westhoughton by family and her friends.
"It is so sad it happened. She will never be forgotten in Westhoughton, she was larger than life and we all miss her. Elaine Horrocks was just 54-years-old when she died (Image: GMP) "We all live a couple of streets away from each other, it has just been hard.
"It was very difficult in the aftermath of it all. "I got my not guilty after four and a half years. If Holts pleaded guilty I wouldn't have had to go through this.
Read more: Pub chain fined £180k after death of woman who fell down stairs Read more: Rosehill Tavern landlady hopes lessons will be learnt after tragedy "They (Holts) were only ever looking at a fine, .