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Donal O'Regan, 26 Apr
THE INQUEST into the tragic deaths of two workmen in Limerick city
heard this Wednesday how emergency services valiantly tried to free
them from a cage which plunged into the River Shannon.
Three men were working in the cage which was suspended over Thomond
bridge via a lorry-mounted crane at around 3.40pm on August 29, 2015
when a “catastrophic failure” of a wire rope occurred. They were nearly
finished their day's work carrying out remedial work on the bridge.
TJ O'Herlihy, aged 36, of Castleisland, County Kerry (pictured left)
and Bryan Whelan, aged 29, of O'Brien's Bridge, County Clare (pictured
right) were fatally injured after they became trapped in the cage on
August 29, 2015.
The third stonemason Paul Murphy, from Askeaton - managed to free
himself and was rescued following the incident. Mr Murphy was one of
the witnesses at the joint inquest in Kilmallock Court.
Limerick Coroner John McNamara said at the outset "I know this is an
absolutely awful tragedy that both your families have endured" and
"this is a difficult day for you all".
The family of Mr Whelan were represented by Seán Fitzgerald, partner at
legal firm HOMS Assist, while Maura McNally SC represented Mr Herlihy's
loved ones.
The first responder on the day to give evidence was Tony Cusack,
chairperson of Limerick Marine Search and Rescue. After the rescue call
Mr Cusack said he and colleagues launched their boat and on their way
to Thomond bridge rescued Mr Murphy from the water.
Mr Cusack said when they got to the cage, which was underwater, a
firefighter (Ciaran Keogh) had been lowered off the bridge. They tried
to free Mr Whelan but he was "attached to the cage" with a harness. A
knife was used to cut Mr Whelan free. He was then put on the boat,
taken to a nearby slipway and emergency first aid commenced.
Mr Keogh, in a deposition later read out at the inquest by Inspector
Gearoid Thompson, said they then cut Mr Herlihy's "straps" to free him.
He was put on Limerick Fire and Rescue Service's boat, taken to a
slipway and CPR was started.
A number of depositions from firefighters, paramedics, gardai, marine
search and rescue were read out at the inquests on their efforts to
resuscitate the men after the incident and on their way to University
Hospital Limerick where they were later pronounced dead.
Mr Murphy (pictured below) in his deposition, described hearing a
“bang”.
“I knew the rope was after breaking. I remember falling like a
rollercoaster, just dropped into the River Shannon. I remember taking a
deep breath as I was falling as I knew we were going into the water.
“I told myself I had to get the harness off. I had been thinking about
this all week as I couldn't swim. I pulled myself down under the water.
I remember the water was murky and I coudn't see anything. I remember
feeling the clip and unclipping it and it coming off. I pushed myself
back off the bar of the cage underwater. I think I popped up two metres
back from the cage. I was kicking and trying to swim,” said Mr Murphy.
He outlined how after he was rescued by the Limerick Marine Search and
Rescue boat and returned to the scene he assisted emergency services
with trying to free Mr Whelan and pulling him onto the boat. Mr Murphy
spoke of the difficulties encountered by the emergency responders due
to the fast current.
The crane operator Richard Hughes, who has over 20 years experience as
a crane driver, said he conducted checks on the crane and didn't notice
anything wrong with the crane.
Answering questions from Ms McNally SC, for the Herlihy family, he
confirmed he had not been given any risk assessment or safety statement
that morning.
PSV inspector Michael Reddy, who examined the crane, said in his
deposition that the “winch cable snapped suddenly”. He said an overload
alarm did not sound. The PSV inspector said Mr Herlihy, Mr Whelan and
Mr Murphy were “tethered to the cage which had become effectively an
anchor”.
Dermot O'Brien, Health and Safety Authority (HSA) inspector, said there
had been a “catastrophic failure” of the wire rope.
“The overload protection failed to operate as it should,” said Mr
O'Brien.
Following an investigation by the HSA, two companies - Nationwide Crane
Hire Limited and Palfinger Ireland Limited - were prosecuted on
indictment before the circuit court last year. See link to story below.
Mr O'Brien said the DPP has appealed the verdict on the grounds of
“undue leniency”.
[IMG-7476-1665146980234_1665148518.JPG--companies_fined__250k_over_thei
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Companies fined €225k over deaths of Limerick bridge workers
In summarising the evidence for the jury, the Limerick coroner said
they were “extremely tragic cases”. Mr McNamara commended the emergency
services for the speed of their response.
The coroner said the three verdicts open to the jury were accidental
death, death by misadventure or a narrative verdict.
After taking time to consider their verdict, the jury of three men and
three women recorded deaths by misadventure in the cases of Mr Herlihy
and Mr Whelan. The cause of death of both men was recorded as drowning.
Mr McNamara offered his sincere condolences to both families on the
very terrible tragedies both families have suffered.
“This has obviously been going on a long number of years. Hopefully
this will bring some closure,” said Mr McNamara.
He added: “It is a miracle we are dealing with two deaths and not three
as thankfully Mr Murphy managed to escape.”
Insp Thompson, on behalf of An Garda Siochana, extended his condolences
to the two families and said gardai would help in any way they can.
Both the Herlihy and Whelan families, through their legal
representatives, thanked Limerick Fire and Rescue Service, National
Ambulance Service paramedics, gardai and Limerick Marine Search and
Rescue for all their efforts in trying to save the lives of TJ
O'Herlihy and Bryan Whelan on August 29, 2015.