A 12 month suspended sentence has been handed down to a former employee of Clare County Council as a result of serious breaches of health and safety legislation.

Michael Scully, who is now retired, received the verdict from Judge Gerard Griffin at the Ennis Circuit Criminal Court today.

Fines totalling €50,000 were also handed down to Clare County Council.

The case arose as a result of an accident involving 49-year-old Thomas O’Grady of Ennis, Co. Clare. At the time of the accident Mr O’Grady was operating a site dumper and tipping material over the edge of an embankment to an area about 1.5m lower than the road at a road works site near Tulla, Co Clare on the 17th May 2006.

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He suffered serious injuries when the site dumper he was operating overturned. Mr O’Grady, an employee of Clare County Council, died as a result of the injuries on the 7th July 2006.

Speaking about the case, the Chief Executive of the Health and Safety Authority, Martin O’Halloran, reminded Directors and Senior Managers of the responsibilities.

"This case highlights the consequences for persons who are responsible for directing workers and do not ensure that health and safety risks are managed," he said.

"There are hazards associated with any work but those hazards can be managed by keeping health and safety high on the agenda in the workplace and ensuring that prevention measures are in place."

(NS/GK)