Irish Ferries fined €125,000 over death of crane driver at Dublin Port

Irish Ferries has been fined €125,000 for failing to have designated pedestrian walkways at a Dublin Port cargo area where a crane driver was crushed to death, a court has heard.

Stephen Bayfield (47), who worked for an outsourced company, died more than three years ago when he was struck by the tyre of a crane he was due to operate as he returned from a lunch break.

Paul Sullivan pleaded guilty at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court on behalf of Irish Ferries Ltd, B&I Ferryport, Alexandra Road, Dublin, that it failed to provide designated walkways in the cargo handling area on October 28th, 2011. The company has no previous convictions.

Padraic McMahon, a Health and Safety Authority (HSA) inspector, said Irish Ferries had since fulfilled requirements for designated walkways.

He told Fionnuala O’Sullivan, prosecuting, that he was called to the scene at Dublin Port where a rubber tyre from a 90m crane had crushed Mr Bayfield.

Mr McMahon said Bayfield, who had 15 years’ experience, walked on to a thoroughfare through a gap between containers when the crane struck him.

The inspector said the crane had made engine and beeping noises as it moved.