Construction company pleads guilty in child death case

An English-based construction company has pleaded guilty at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to a breach of safety legislation leading to the death of a young child during construction work for the Ballymun Regeneration Project in 2001.

Mr Joe O’Hagan, as the legal representative for PJ Carey Contractors Ltd., with a head office in Wembley, Middlesex, England, had initially denied six charges of breaching health and safety legislation on the construction site, in Main Street, Ballymun, in August 22, 2001, which resulted in the death of Alex Cuthbert.

Shortly after a jury was sworn in for the trial of the company on these six charges, Mr Hugh Hartnett SC (with Mr John Aylmer SC) defending, told Mr Judge Kevin Haugh that the company now wished to plead guilty to the first count on the indictment.

Mr Patrick McGrath BL prosecuting told Judge Haugh that the Director of Public Prosecution were satisfied with this and would not proceed with the other five charges.

Judge Haugh told the jury that its service would no longer be required and thanked the members for being available for the trial.

Judge Haugh adjourned sentencing PJ Carey Contractors Ltd to tomorrow.