Irish Ferries fined €125k after crane driver’s death

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.

Stephen Bayfield, 47, who worked for an outsourced company, died over 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.

Company representative Paul Sullivan pleaded guilty at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court on behalf of Irish Ferries Ltd, of B & I Ferryport, Alexandra Rd, Dublin 1, to the charge that it failed to provide designated walkways in the cargo handling area on October 28, 2011. The company has no previous convictions.