A DEVELOPER and a demolition company face an unlimited fine at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court for allowing workers to be exposed to asbestos.
Finian McDonnell, director of the developer, Markethaven Ltd of Eblana Villas, Dublin 2, pleaded guilty on behalf of the company to two breaches of the Health and Safety Act at the former Spring Grove Service Laundry on the Shelbourne Road, Ballsbridge, on June 20th, 2003.
The charge detailed that Markethaven failed to appoint a project supervisor for the design stage and that it carried out an activity which exposed persons, or was liable to expose persons, to a concentration of asbestos fibres which created a substantial risk of death or serious harm.
Thomas Gibson, a solicitor acting for demolition firm Walmac Ltd, Hillview, Naas Road, Saggart, pleaded guilty to breaches of health and safety regarding the same place and date.
Veronica Helley of the Health and Safety Authority (HSA) told Rosin Lacey, prosecuting, that she visited the site in 2003 when it was being demolished. She said it was “a mess even for a demolition site” and that workers were throughout the partially gutted building.
She said she was shown to the site office and examined safety documents. She shouted at employees to cease because of the danger of asbestos, and work was stopped.
Ms Helley said the employees of East Coast Building Ltd, who were doing the demolition work, weren’t aware of asbestos in the building except in the roof.
She said she issued a prohibition notice for work to stop and that it took two specialist firms two months to clean up the site in a seven-stage programme, the cost of which was €300,000 plus VAT.
Judge Frank O’Donnell said he needed time to consider the matter and adjourned sentencing until January. Both parties face an unlimited fine.