Wicklow County Council has gone on trial in connection with the deaths of two fire-fighters in a disused warehouse in Bray nearly 6 years ago.

The council denies allegations that it failed to ensure the safety, health and welfare of its employees.

46-year-old father of 15 Brian Murray and 26-year-old Mark O'Shaughnessy died fighting a fire at a disused factory at Adelaide Villas, off the Dargle Road, in Bray on September 26th 2007.

Wicklow County Council is the fire authority and operates the fire service in Bray. It denies four charges alleging breaches under the 2005 Safety, Health and Welfare at Work Act.

Opening the case for the prosecution, barrister Alex Owens told the jury a lack of clear guidelines meant the two fire-fighters were exposed to unnecessary risk.

They allege there was no necessity for the 2 men to enter a disused building.

It has also alleged there was insufficient training supplied and that more than one unit of the fire brigade should have been immediately sent to tackle the fire when the alarm was raised.