Tipperary publican in fatal accident while repairing vintage truck

By David Raleigh

Tributes have been made made to a well-known Tipperary publican and farmer who was killed in a workplace accident last night.

John Ahern, 66, from Ballymackeogh, Newport, was found trapped under the hood of a truck after it collapsed on top of him last night at a workshop at the rear of the family pub, which lies just yards from the Tipperary/Limerick border.

Gardaí and other emergency services responded to Mr Ahern's home at around 9.50pm last night and found his body wedged under the truck.

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He was pronounced dead at the scene.

According to local gardaí, Mr Ahern had been carrying out repairs to a vintage truck at the rear of his house when he became wedged under the vehicle.

Gardaí at Nenagh and Newport are investigating the incident, but have described it as a tragic accident.

"He was carrying out repair work in his workshop on a vintage truck at the time," said a garda source.

"His body was taken from the scene for a post mortem in Limerick," they added.

A post mortem will be carried out later today at University Hospital Limerick.

The scene which was sealed off for a garda forensic examination has now been reopened.

Mr Ahern, who is married with children, was the owner of Ahern's Pub located on the Tipperary/Limerick border.

A local source said: "His family are all very much involved in the local GAA scene.

"The pub is on the Tipperary side of the border and I believe he died in a workshop attached to the back of the pub where the house is."

"He would have farmland in Ballymackeogh and he was an agricultural contractor. Ahern's Pub is well known for hosting dances on Sunday nights."

Local Councillor John Rocky McGrath spoke to Tipp FM about Mr Ahern.

"They have a lovely pub and a lounge there, they've done music and all that," he said.

"He was one of those remarkable men who could absolutely put his hand to anything.

"They're brilliant neighbours ... he was a great man.

"It's an awful loss."