Tractor accident led to man’s death

An 84-year-old farmer survived being trapped under a tractor for 20 hours in freezing conditions, only to die days later from injury complications.

Cork’s City Coroner’s court heard yesterday that a faulty tractor handbrake was to blame for the accident on Dan O’Meara’s Kerry farm in January.

Dr Myra Cullinane, the city coroner, and Health and Safety Authority inspector Gerard McSweeney said the case served as a stark reminder to farmers to ensure their farm machinery is in good working order.