Mayo firm fined €250,000 for safety breaches

A MAYO construction company has been fined €250,000 for breaching safety, health and welfare regulations at the Connacht Gold shop in Longford.

Two men died and two others were seriously injured in the incident, which happened on January 29, 2013.

Vincent Ruane Construction Limited pleaded guilty last week to a breach in construction regulations resulting in the collapse of an internal wall at the Connacht Gold shop at a special sitting of Longford Circuit Criminal Court.

Sean Mulleady, 49, from Drumlish, Co. Longford and Paddy Gaffney, 63, from Rooskey, Co. Roscommon. were killed.

In their victim impact statements, the families told of their devastation and loss following the deaths of the two men.

A statement read by Eileen Sorahan on behalf of Mr. Mulleady’s wife, Theresa, outlined how every day is a struggle since the accident.

She described Mr. Mulleady as a loving, caring husband, father, brother and son. He was hardworking and gifted in the areas of engineering, carpentry, building and plumbing.

He was a strong family man and loved helping anyone in need.

She said the shock of the accident is still hard to accept and she still thinks he will return, but has come to the realisation that we have no control over our lives and mistakes made by others can kill.

This was not an act of God, she said, but an act of mankind.

In a second impact statement read on behalf of Patsy Gaffney, the wife of Mr. Gaffney, the court heard how Mr. Gaffney loved his children and grandchildren.

He was caring and hands on, he never grumbled or complained and every morning he would bring his wife a mug of tea in bed. The couple had been married 46 years and “were joined at the hip.'

She explained that on the day of the tragedy the couple had gone shopping. She waited in the car while her husband went inside to the store.

She heard a noise but assumed it was thunder as it had been raining heavily. A woman called her inside, she said, and told her husband had been hurt.

She recalled seeing her husband bleeding heavily from the head and telling her he was not going to make it.

In handing down a fine of €250,000 plus costs, Judge John Hannon said no fine would bring these two men back.

He said he had to be realistic and impose a fine the company would be able to repay.

The court heard earlier how the company was asset rich but cash poor. It was owed almost €3 million from companies associated with it.

The judge expressed his sympathies to the families and said they had delivered dignified victim impact statements.

The company has nine months to pay the fine.