Probe as man, 26, killed on site

GARDAÍ and the Health & Safety Authority (HSA) are carrying out separate investigations after a 26-year-old man was killed in a work-related accident.

The man was crushed to death on a building site at Ballinacurra, near Midleton Co Cork.

Gardaí were alerted to the accident shortly after 12.30pm yesterday.

The victim, from a village in north Cork, had been working with a tractor and trailer when the accident occurred. It had been raining heavily at the time, although it is not clear if the weather played a part in the accident.

Gardaí believe the trailer was in a tipping position when it became detached from the tractor. The man had been standing between the tractor and trailer at the time. When the trailer detached it rolled back and crushed him against the tractor.

A local doctor pronounced the man dead at the scene.

His body was taken to Cork University Hospital where a postmortem was to be carried out.

Gardaí sealed off the area for technical examination and to aid the & HSA with their investigation.

Both gardaí and the HSA questioned other construction workers who were in the area at the time.

Midleton-based Superintendent Flor Horan, who is leading the Garda investigation, said everything pointed to “a tragic accident”.

The tractor and trailer were taken away so they could be examined by garda PSV (Public Service Vehicle) inspectors.

Gardaí will prepare a file for the coroner’s court.