Irish dairy equipment company convicted and fined over death of Limerick farmer
Dairymaster Unlimited Company based in Kerry were convicted and fined in Limerick Circuit Court for health and safety breaches, which caused the death of Anglesboro farmer Danny Mullins
A COMPANY who manufactured a gate, which fatally injured a Limerick farmer, have been convicted and fined in Limerick Circuit Criminal Court.
On Monday, July 27, Judge Simon McAleese convicted and fined Dairymaster Unlimited Company of Causeway, Kerry, €400,000 after they pleaded guilty to breaches of safety, health and welfare at work legislation.
The case arose following a fatal work-related incident which occurred at a dairy farm in County Limerick on July 30, 2020.
The farmer, 76-year-old Danny Mullins, was fatally injured on his farm in Anglesboro, from a pneumatic powered parlour back entry gate, designed and manufactured by Dairymaster Unlimited Company.
This gate was used to control animals in the milking parlour, creating a separation between the holding area and the cow standing area, and keeping the cows in position while being milked.
Dairymaster Unlimited Company had previously pleaded guilty to six charges in breach of safety, health and welfare at work legislation.
Judge McAleese imposed a fine of €200,000 on the breach of Section 16(3) of the Safety, Health and Welfare at Work Act 2005 contrary to Section 77(2)(a) and a fine of €200,000 on the breach of Section 16(1)(a) of the Safety, Health and Welfare at Work Act 2005 contrary to Section 77(9)(a). The remaining counts were taken into consideration.
Chief Executive Officer at the HSA, Mark Cullen, said: “This tragic incident demonstrates the vital importance of ensuring machinery is properly designed, tested and supplied with adequate safety information.
“Manufacturers have a responsibility to ensure their products are safe for use at work. The consequences of failing to do so can be devastating.”