Man killed by blocks found by chance

THE body of a man killed by falling blocks after a freak road accident in Co Cork was only discovered by chance, gardaí revealed yesterday.

Gardaí named the victim yesterday as Peter O’Sullivan, 57, from Ballygriffin in north Cork.

The father of one was tending to dogs on a disused railway track under the N72 between Mallow and Fermoy when a truck and a van collided on the bridge above him on Thursday evening.

The collision dislodged large bricks in a wall which fell 30 feet onto him.

But the two drivers, who were on the road after the collision, didn’t notice anyone below.

A passerby who arrived on the scene then spotted torch light in the gorge below.

It was only then that the full horror of what had happened began to unfold.

Gardaí found Mr O’Sullivan’s body under a pile of blocks a short time later.

The body was removed to Cork University Hospital where a post mortem was carried out yesterday.

Gardaí concluded a technical examination of the scene and the two vehicles yesterday.

Inspector Pat McCarthy described the incident as a “freak accident”.

Tributes were paid last night to Mr O’Sullivan, who lived close to the scene of the accident.

Local publican Pat O’Brien said people were in a state of shock.

He said Mr O’Sullivan was very involved in the community.

“Himself and his family would be very well known and very popular. Peter was very involved in the community, even raising money for the community council by doing a climb last November.”

Mr O’Sullivan is survived by his son, Darren, brother Jim and sisters Joan, Nora, Peggy and Judy.