A restaurant manager appeared at a special sitting of Magistrates' Court on Saturday charged with manslaughter.

Kevin Pollock, 35, from Pembroke, who works at Flanagan's Restaurant on Front Street, was formally charged with the illegal killing of Craig McGavern on July 28.

Mr. McGavern, 51, died in the intensive care unit of King Edward VII Memorial Hospital last Tuesday following an incident outside the pub 12 days earlier in which he fractured his skull after falling down a flight of stairs.

Flanked by two detectives Pollock, who had been in custody since his arrest shortly after Mr. McGavern was pronounced dead, appeared calm and relaxed as the charge was read out. Dozens of friends and pub regulars packed the public gallery in support of the accused man.

Pollock was not required to plead to the charge, which can only be tried in Supreme Court.

Crown counsel Peter Eccles argued that Pollock should be remanded in custody until the case went to trial.

But Senior magistrate Will Francis, after hearing arguments from defence attorney Mark Pettingill, granted Pollock bail in the sum of $16,000 with two sureties.

Pollock will also have to report to Hamilton Police Station once a week, was ordered not to interfere with witnesses and also had to hand in all travel documents.

The case was adjourned until Wednesday, September 2.