French prosecutors bring charges against Bordeaux botulism restaurateur

A FRENCH restaurateur has been charged over the death of the wife of a Castlebar man who died as a result of botulism tied to improperly preserved sardines.

Greek national Marie Grypioti (32) lost her life on September 12 just three days after she and a number of other customers in a Bordeaux restaurant fell ill after a suspected outbreak of botulism. Her husband Cathal Meehan, a native of Castlebar also fell ill and was hospitalised but is now recovering from his ordeal.

French prosecutors confirmed the restaurant chief was taken into custody on Tuesday and charged today with involuntary homicide and wounding, endangering the lives of others, failing to assist a person in danger and selling contaminated or toxic food.

“Various infringements of the hygiene regulations by the establishment's manager” were identified, "especially relating to home-made preserves," senior prosecutor Frederique Porterie said in a statement.

He was released from custody, but is subject to police monitoring and barred from any work relating to food service ahead of the trial.

Around 25 people were exposed to the contaminated sardines served at the wine bar, an investigation by French health authorities and police found.

Botulism is a rare, deadly neurological condition which can prove fatal in around 10 percent of cases. It stems from a powerful toxin, produced by a bacteria that can live in poorly-preserved food that has been improperly sterilised.

Mr Meehan and Ms Grypioti who were married last May had been living in Paris and travelled to Bordeaux to enjoy the atmosphere for Ireland's first game of the Rugby World Cup. They had dined at Tchin Tchin Wine Bar near the ground which was subsequently closed after being linked to an outbreak of botulism among customers who consumed sardines.

Ms Grypioti first fell ill in Bordeaux and attended hospital but was deemed well enough to be discharged and return to her home in Paris. There she became extremely unwell and was rushed to hospital but her condition deteriorated.

Just hours after her death, Mr Meehan also fell ill, deteriorated badly and was admitted to ICU, where he received the life-saving antitoxin to botulism.

Ms Grypioti, a native of Greece, worked as a chemical lab scientist and her Funeral took place in Athens, Greece at the end of September.

Mr Meehan is now pursuing charges against the restaurateur and the two hospitals he feels 'inappropriately discharged Marie' after she fell ill. A Go Fund Me page has been created by Mr Meehan to help pay for legal fees to pursue the charges and to date €28,000 has been raised.

Mr Meehan thanked all the people who have supported and made a donation to the fund which has a target of €100,000.

“Thank you all so much for your messages and support. It’s really made a difference to all of us in this very hard time. I’m sorry we haven’t had time to individually thank all of you. We will make sure these funds go towards finding the truth and getting justice for Marie,” he wrote on the Justice for Marie Go Fund Me on November 29.