THE PARENTS of a three-year-old boy who died when a telegraph pole weighing one tonne fell on him at Drogheda Port, said yesterday, they wanted to thank everyone for their prayers and support.
Des and Annamarie Dyas were speaking at their home in Clogherhead, Co Louth, shortly after shipping company Patrick Monahan (Drogheda) Ltd was fined €25,000 for a breach of safety, health and welfare at work regulations.
Company director Michael Ronayne pleaded guilty on behalf of the company to the offence, which took place on November 10th, 2009, at the Town Quay in Drogheda. It admitted failing to ensure that people who were not its employees were not exposed to risk. Dundalk Circuit Criminal Court heard that Desmond Dyas was with his father Des at the town port, watching as 22m timber poles were being lifted by a loader from the quayside and on to an articulated truck.
Three poles rolled forward and “one hit Desmond junior on the legs before rolling on to his chest and crushing him”. The court heard safety devices called chocks were on only one of the four stacks of poles – chocks are used to prevent poles rolling forward.