Inquest into death of Cork man in workplace accident adjourned

An inquest into the death of a young man killed in an industrial accident in West Cork has been adjourned to allow the Health and Safety Authority complete its investigation into the tragedy.

Fearghal Beamish (26) from Carrigroe, Clonakilty suffered fatal injuries while working in the yard of Clona Dairy Products at Long Quay in the centre of Clonakilty around 10.10am on July 14th last.

At Clonakilty Court House on Tuesday, Coroner for West Cork Frank O’Connell heard evidence of how Mr Beamish was fatally injured in the accident at the Clona Dairy Products yard.

Garda Michael Dunne told the inquest how he responded to an emergency call and arrived at the dairy yard to discover the body of a young man lying between a tractor unit and a trailer.

The man, who was pronounced dead at the scene by a local GP, was formally identified at the scene as Mr Beamish by Maurice O’Regan, an employee of Clona Dairy Products.

Assistant State Pathologist, Dr Margot Bolster told how she conducted a postmortem on Mr Beamish's body at the City Morgue at Cork University Hospital.

She said that Mr Beamish died from traumatic asphyxia consistent with being crushed between a tractor unit and trailer at the dairy products yard.

Mr O’Connell said he would issue a death certificate having heard evidence of Mr Beamish’s death but he would now adjourn the inquest to allow the HSA complete its investigation into the death.

He adjourned the inquest until February 16th 2016 for mention before extending his condolences to Mr Beamish’s family on the loss of their son in such a tragic accident at his workplace.