Company pleads guilty to safety breaches following fatal Mayo quarry accident

A MAYO based company has pleaded guilty at the Circuit Criminal Court to health and safety charges arising from the death of one of their employees in an accident involving a stone crusher more than three years ago.

Joseph Harrington, aged 27, Sonnagh, Charlestown, was killed while operating the crusher at Carrownascoltia, Aughamore, on June 11, 2015.

Mr. Harrington was working for Harrington Concrete and Quarries when the tragedy occurred

Three charges under the Health and Safety Acts relating to the use of the stone crusher were brought against the company.

When the charges were read to Brian Harrington, one of the directors of the company at the Circuit Criminal Court in Castlebar today, replied 'guilty' in response to each charge.

One of the charges against the firm relates to a failure to provide sufficient protection on the hopper of the crusher to prevent an operator from falling in.

Judge Rory MacCabe put back sentencing to October 25.