B&Q to pay €250,000 after customer's death

DIY franchise B&Q Ireland Limited has today been ordered to pay a fine of a €250,000 for a health and safety breach which resulted in a customer’s death.

Ronald Metcaffe, on behalf of the company, pleaded guilty to failing to ensure a safe workplace which resulted in the death at the Belgard Road, Tallaght store in Dublin in March 2009.

Michael O’Rourke, died after being hit by a half-ton fencing bundle that had fallen from the top shelf at B&Q's garden centre.

He had gone with a friend that Sunday to buy fencing panels and was seen by another customer “looking intently” at something in front of him just before the accident.

The court heard the bundle of lap panel fencing was not properly stored on its timber runners and was at an unsafe height.

Ronald Metcalfe of B&Q offered Michael O’Rourke’s family his “deepest sympathy” on behalf of the company, which he said has done “everything possible so that something like this never happens again”.

The company has no previous convictions.

Judge Patricia Ryan said it was a serious offence and imposed a €250,000 fine.