The Circuit Criminal Court in Castlebar today fined a Galway-based company €500,000 for breaches of health and safety legislation, the highest fine ever handed down by the courts for such offences.
The conviction and fine imposed on Oran Pre-Cast Concrete followed an investigation by the Health and Safety Authority (HSA) into the death of a 25-year-old man following a work-related accident at a factory in Charlestown, in Co Mayo on September 3rd, 2001.
Mr Thomas Farragher fell close to nine metres from a roof while replacing a damaged gutter. Working at heights is by far the biggest killer in the construction industry.
The company pleaded guilty to breaches of the Safety, Health and Welfare at Work Act, 1989 and the Safety, Health and Welfare at Work (Construction) Regulations, of 1995.
The charges related to the company's failure to provide adequate training in fall protection.
Sitting today in Westport, Judge Harvey Kenny stated that this case indicated a need for the legislature to now consider other penalties for such offences.
The Chief Executive of the HSA, Mr Tom Beegan, described today's judgement as a "landmark" and expressed his deep regret at Mr Farragher's death.
"This is a landmark judgement. The level of the fine imposed by the Court underlines the truly criminal nature of businesses who fail to protect the safety of workers," MR Beegan said.
Since 1997, the number of prosecutions taken on foot of HSA investigations has more than doubled and currently there are 25 cases awaiting judge and jury trial in the Circuit Criminal Court.
