Farmer sentenced after death of child

Appearing at Coleraine Crown court on 23 June, a County Down farmer was fined £15,000. In addition, a forfeiture order was granted in respect of the JCB loading shovel involved in the incident.

The farmer pleaded guilty to two breaches of health and safety legislation after his niece suffered fatal crush injuries when she was struck by a JCB wheeled loading shovel, driven by a 12-year-old child. The two children had been using the loading shovel to move tyres from a silage clamp to another area of the farmyard when the incident occurred.

The prosecution followed a joint investigation by HSENI with its enforcement partners in the Police Service of Northern Ireland.

Speaking after the hearing, Anne Boylan, Principal Health & Safety Inspector said: “Whilst incidents involving children on farms occur less frequently than with adults, it is no less shocking that in the past 10 years, three children in Northern Ireland have sadly lost their lives in farm incidents.

“Farmers and others working in agriculture are reminded that children under 13 years of age are prohibited from operating any agricultural machinery.”

Speaking on behalf of the Police Service of Northern Ireland, Detective Constable McAteer said: “This was a tragic loss of a young life and serves as a salutary reminder of the dangers presented on a working farm, particularly when there is heavy machinery in use.” now being finished and occupied with the surrounding grounds completed. These options will be offered to Mr Tucker and the homeowners to consider.

The Main Site contractor/Project Supervisor for the Construction Stage (PSCS) and the Site manager/Site Engineer on the project had already appeared in court in respect of this matter. They received a €15,000 fine and an 18 month suspended jail sentence respectively.

Gary Little, Compliance, Manager for NI Water, said: “This is a welcome result and should be seen as a strong message to developers who choose to ignore established practices and do not consult NI Water during the development process. I would underline to all concerned that it is an offence to interfere with our water or sewerage network. NI Water takes any interference with its network very seriously and will seek to bring the perpetrators to court when identified.”