Council bans staff from felling trees or using chainsaws

A local authority has banned its employees from tree felling and using chainsaws until a number of investigations into the death of one of its workers are concluded.

Cork County Council's health and safety department issued the directive to staff yesterday, just 24 hours after the funeral of Michael O’Donovan.

Mr O’Donovan — a married father of three in his mid-40s — died last Friday after a tree fell on to overhead wires and dragged down a telegraph pole, which struck him.