Families of site fatalities left ‘high and dry’ says SIPTU

FAMILIES were left in financial trouble by fatalities on building sites last year, the country’s largest union claimed yesterday.

SIPTU said preliminary findings into some construction industry deaths showed the victims’ families were left financially high and dry.

Union official Mick Finnegan said rogue building firms are not participating in mandatory social welfare schemes. As a result, following on-site tragedies, next-of-kin are denied bereavement grants and pension allowances.