ESB pleads guilty over fatal shock incident

The ESB has pleaded guilty to failing in its duty to ensure the safety of an apprentice electrician who died carrying out work at a substation in Dublin.

The company is accused of breaking the Safety, Health and Welfare at Work Act, which can result in a maximum €3m fine.

Shane Conlon, aged 22, from Santry, Dublin, was electrocuted while carrying out maintenance work at a substation in Finglas on January 15 last year.

Criminal proceedings were brought by the Health & Safety Authority following an investigation into his death. The case was listed at Dublin District Court yesterday for the DPP’s directions to be conveyed.

Prosecution counsel Antonia Boyle told Judge John O’Neill the DPP directed “trial on indictment”.

The ESB was represented by counsel who told the court that there was a “signed plea” and the “paperwork is in order”.

Ms Boyle said, “The DPP consents to the matter going forward for sentencing on a signed plea.”

Judge O’Neill then ordered that the ESB was being sent forward “for sentencing” at the next sittings of Dublin Circuit Criminal Court, where the case will be listed on January 16.

The plea has been offered to a charge stating the ESB failed to ensure the safety of a worker carrying out maintenance work at an outdoor 38kv cubicle. There were no visual warning signs or flag inside the cubicle to warn employees working in it that there was a live electrical apparatus overhead. As a consequence a Mr Conlon suffered personal injury and died, the charge states.