Farmer killed trying to save son

An elderly farmer has died trying to save his son, who was being attacked by a cow.

The 74-year-old man, named locally as Michael O’Dea, had gone with his son Eddie to dose a newly born calf at their farm at Clonina near Cree in west Clare. The accident happened at around 11am.

The agitated cow is understood to have turned on Eddie O’Dea, who is in his 30s, and his elderly father tried to intervene and save his son.

The cow then turned on the pensioner, who sustained fatal injuries in the attack. It’s understood the cow kicked the helpless man several times.

Eddie, who suffered a broken ankle in the attack, was able to return to the family home and raise the alarm.

Paramedics were unable to save the gravely injured farmer, who was pronounced dead at the scene by a local doctor.

Mr O’Dea Sr’s body was removed to the Mid Western Regional Hospital in Limerick, where an autopsy was expected to be carried out.

Gardaí notified the Health and Safety Authority and two separate investigations are now under way.

HSA officials were due to visit the scene today and gardaí will also investigate and prepare a file for the county coroner.