€685k for widow of man killed working on Luas line

A widow whose husband died during construction works on the Dublin Luas line extension has settled her High Court action for €685,000.

Eilis Crawford, aged 43, had sued over the death of her husband George, a father of two, in what the court heard was a tragic accident near the Luas Extension Project at Citwest Avenue, Dublin, on May 15, 2009.

Mr Crawford, from Forge Meadow, Ballon, Co Carlow, was helping offload concrete slabs from a trailer parked on the roadway adjacent to the site compound near the Luas Extension Project.

As he was attaching the lifting chains to the lifting eyes of the slabs, the rear wheels of a teleporter lost contact with the ground and Mr Crawford was struck in the shoulder and back by the teleporter forks and killed.

Counsel David Hardiman said it was a tragic accident and there was no question of contributory negligence.

Ms Crawford had sued building materials supplier Shareridge Ltd, Castlebar, Co Mayo; BAM Rail Ltd, Kill, Co Kildare, and teleporter driver Stephen Cannon of Ballymote, Co Sligo. It was claimed there was an alleged failure to ensure the safety, health, and welfare at work of Mr Crawford and an alleged failure to provide and maintain a safe and proper system of work.

As a result, it was claimed Ms Crawford and her son and daughter had suffered mental distress and injury.

Approving the settlement, Mr Justice Kevin Cross extended his sympathy . He said while nothing could undo what happened, he hoped the settlement would be some consolation to the family.