Memorial service for man killed in mine

A MEMORIAL service took place yesterday at the Co Tipperary zinc mine where a 47-year-old father of three — whose partner is due a baby this summer — lost his life in an explosion earlier this week.

The service in memory of long-serving Lisheen Mine supervisor Joe Fallon was attended by family members and work colleagues who remain shocked and traumatised by the tragedy that unfolded on Wednesday evening.

Three controlled explosions had to be carried out by the Defence Forces late on Thursday night and early yesterday morning to make safe a number of detonators that remained in the area where Mr Fallon was killed.

He died and colleague Chris Barlow was injured when an explosion took place 190 metres below ground, close to an access point in a mine shaft at Lisheen. Mr Barlow was taken to Cork University Hospital but his injuries were not life-threatening.

News of the popular mine supervisor’s death was greeted with despair by his pregnant partner Sara Bulfin and children Jeff, Jack and Clodagh. Mr Fallon lived in Callan, Co Kilkenny, with Sara — who also works at the mine as an administrator — but was originally from Two-Mile-Borris outside Thurles. His brothers Kevin and Vinny worked at the mine while he is also survived by sisters Sharon and Fiona and parents Joe and Breda.

Management and staff at Lisheen Mine, one of the largest producers of zinc in Europe and an employer of 374 people a few miles from Thurles, were left devastated by Wednesday evening’s incident and the mine remained closed yesterday while gardaí and safety experts continued their investigation.

A Defence Forces spokesman said they were called on Thursday night and spent a number of hours making detonators safe.