Farm safety plea at crush hearing

A coroner has made a fresh appeal to farmers on farm safety after hearing how the father of an All-Ireland U-21 hurling winner died in a farm accident last year.

At the Clare coroner’s court yesterday, a jury returned an accidental death verdict in relation to father of five Gerry O’Connell, 56, who died on September 3 when he was crushed while loading cattle from a shed into a trailer.

Ten days after the tragedy, Gerry’s son Gearoid lined out for Clare to beat Wexford in the All-Ireland U-21 final.

Mr O’Connell’s death at the family farm in Ballyea was one of 30 farm fatalities last year and the Health and Safety Authority has agreed to appear before the Oireachtas Committee on Agriculture on Thursday to face questions about its plan to cut farm safety inspections.

At the inquest yesterday, Clare coroner Isobel O’Dea addressed the O’Connell family and said: “It was a terrible shock for all of you.

“I am not in any way suggesting that there was any thing untoward in Gerard’s passing, but I think it is incumbent on all of us, in light of recent farm accidents, to encourage farmers to become more involved in liaising with department and farm bodies in relation to the use of equipment.

“Perhaps sometimes after using equipment over a long time, we can all get relaxed about safety measures.

“I would encourage all farmers in Clare and the country to have another look at how they carry out their work.”

Mr O’Connell’s wife, Frances O’Connell told the court her husband told her he would be moving cattle, but had not returned home.

She said she went to the cattle shed where Mr O’Connell’s body was found stuck between the trailer and the wall of the shed.

She said she moved the tractor “and Gerry fell to the ground. I ran over to Gerry and felt for a pulse and there was nothing. He was cold.”

The autopsy recorded Mr O’Connell died from shock secondary to multiple crush injuries consistent with being crushed by a trailer.