The Health Service Executive has been taken to court and has been sent forward for trial accused of breaking health and safety regulations in connection with the death of a paramedic who fell out of an ambulance.
On June 3rd, 2010, while on a patient-transfer call-out, father-of-six Simon Sexton (43) fell out of the side door of the moving vehicle while treating a member of the public on the N3 in Stradone, Co Cavan.
Mr Sexton, who was from Cavan, died a short time later and an investigation was carried out by the Health and Safety Authority.
The HSE has now been brought to court accused of failing to ensure the safety of employees in the work place.The case – listed as “DPP v HSE” – was before Dublin District Court yesterday.
Judge John O’Neill then said he was “returning the HSE for trial to the Dublin Circuit Criminal Court” on seven charges. The HSE has not yet indicated how it will plead and the case will next be listed in the Dublin Circuit Criminal Court on March 22nd.
The charges are all under sections of the Health and Safety and Welfare at Work Act 2005.
The HSE is accused of failing to discharge a duty to ensure so far as reasonably practicable the design, provision and maintenance of equipment that are safe and without risk to health.