Three investigations into man’s pylon death

THREE separate investigations are under way to establish how a young man, who died after receiving a shock while climbing an ESB pylon, was able to scale the structure.

Donncadha O’Flynn, aged 20, from Greenhills Court in Douglas, Cork, will be buried today after 11am funeral Mass in Christ the King Church in Turners Cross.

He was electrocuted while apparently climbing the high-voltage pylon near his home off the South Douglas Road at about 11pm on Friday night.

Work colleagues at Q Fab in Little Island, where Mr O’Flynn has worked for almost four years, paid tribute to him yesterday.

Manager Sean Fitton said the young apprentice was a “very honest and good worker”.

“All the lads here are devastated. There was a lot of disbelief here on Saturday,” he said.

The company will close today as a mark of respect.

Three separate investigations are underway to establish the exact circumstances surrounding Mr O’Flynn’s death, which gardaí have described as a tragic accident.

They will take statements over the coming days from witnesses which will be included in a file which is being prepared for the coroner’s court.

The ESB said as well as conducting its own internal investigation, it is also cooperating fully with the Garda investigation and a Health and Safety Authority probe.

Each investigation is trying to establish whether Mr O’Flynn was able to climb over special devices installed on the four legs of the pylon, about 15 foot above ground level, or whether he received his fatal shock below those devices.

The ESB said each of its high-voltage pylons is fitted with these anti-climb devices, and that some pylons are also protected by fences.

However, the pylon at the centre of this tragedy was not surrounded by a fence.

The pylon is located just yards from a public path which runs behind a housing estate, overlooking part of the Kinsale Road landfill site.

There is also an open area nearby which is used local children.

There have been several calls in recent years for the ESB to relocate the pylons, or bury the cables which they carry over the landfill site which is set to become a public park.

However, the ESB has quoted huge amounts to conduct the work.

Mr O’Flynn is survived by his parents, Brian and Jacqueline, and his brother Padraig.

An ESB spokesman offered his condolences to them and said the company’s thoughts are with them at this difficult time.

But he reiterated a warning about the hazards associated with climbing pylons.

As well as the danger of falling, there is a very high risk of a fatal shock by getting close to the wires, he said.

Such accidents are very rare – there has not been a fatal accident involving in a pylon in at least eight years.

In 2002, a nine-year-old boy died after being electrocuted at an ESB substation in Waterford.