THE family of student nurse Mary Linnane, who fell to her death from an apartment building in Turkey last year, is to travel to the country later this month to witness the manslaughter trial of the building's owner.

Hotel proprietor Vahap Donertaf is facing charges of involuntary manslaughter and is likely to receive a custodial sentence should he be found guilty by the Second Court of First Instance in Kusadasi.

The 20-year-old from Belmullet, Co Mayo, was on holiday with 11 friends when she fell to her death from the fifth floor of the building in July last year.

Solicitor Fergus Gallagher from Dublin-based Fitzpatrick Gallagher McEvoy solicitors told the Sunday Tribune that the family welcomed moves to prosecute following a legal review of the case.

They have particularly welcomed a decision that Mary is not deemed to be responsible for her own death.

"The prosecutor's office over there did an inspection and took statements and reviewed the file. The charge is on the basis of all the information and they decided to proceed," he said.