Jail sentence for safety breaches apt

NO tears will be shed for the director of a building firm jailed by the High Court for running an unsafe site.

On the contrary, Mr Justice Peter Kelly deserves praise for putting Jason Madden of Kilkishen Homes Ltd behind bars in Mountjoy Prison this weekend.

He is the first company owner to be sent to jail for breaching undertakings given on safety standards. Nor is there any guarantee he will be freed on Monday unless safety measures at the site near Nenagh in Co Tipperary meet safety requirements.

Closed in November, the building site reopened on the basis of undertakings which have not been complied with since.

The intimidation of a health and safety inspector involved in the case was disgraceful.

By making an example of Madden, Justice Kelly sends out a clear message that the culture of non-compliance with health and safety regulations has to end.

Unless the industry assumes full responsibility for safety, rogue operators will continue to profit on the blood of workers. It was high time somebody went to jail.