No charges over Christmas party death

Darren Grace. Photo / Supplied

No charges will be laid over the death of a man on a luxury boat during an office Christmas party.

Police investigating the death of Darren Perry Grace, 40, have decided not to charge a man who restrained Mr Grace, who passengers said became unruly after drinking heavily.

Mr Grace was on the Quest 2, hired for the Pacific Hygiene Christmas party in 2009, with his partner Claire Tynan.

Witnesses said he began fighting and threatening people and had to be restrained in an attempt to subdue him. A guest said "one minute he was fighting and kicking and abusing, the next minute he just stopped".

On Monday, detectives told the man who subdued him he would not face any charges relating to Mr Grace's death. The Pacific Hygiene employee had been frustrated at the time it was taking police to decide whether charges were going to be laid against him.

A colleague said in January the young man had been deeply affected by the incident. He was said to be the only one strong enough to restrain Mr Grace. "He hasn't slept in 13 months and has struggled to function normally. The toll on him has been huge."

The man spent time away from work and received counselling to help cope. Police had said they couldn't rush any decisions about charges but could sympathise with how frustrated the key players were.

Mr Grace's parents last night declined to comment.