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Wicklow County Council fined €355,000 over firefighter deaths

Wicklow County Council has four months to pay a fine of 355 thousand euro for health and safety b...
Newstalk
Newstalk

08.47 25 Oct 2013


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Wicklow County Council fined €...

Wicklow County Council fined €355,000 over firefighter deaths

Newstalk
Newstalk

08.47 25 Oct 2013


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Wicklow County Council has four months to pay a fine of 355 thousand euro for health and safety breaches relating to the deaths of 2 fire fighters.

Father of 15, Brian Murray and 26 year old Mark O'Shaughnessy lost their lives fighting a blaze inside a disused ink factory at Adelaide Villas on September 26th 2007.

6 years ago the men died in the line of duty fighting a fire in Bray. Today Judge Des Hogan said their bravery has never been in question and their competence has never been in doubt.

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However in fining their employer Wicklow County Council €355,000 for health and safety breaches, he stressed the local authority was not convicted of causing their tragic deaths.

Some family members walked out of court in disgust at the sum imposed.

The judge noted that firefighters weren't trained how to operate a new fire pump in use at the fatal blaze. He called the work systems used by the council antiquated, inefficient and flawed.

The council also have to pay the legal costs of the trial which come to €95,000.

Outside court Sinn Fein councillor John Brady spoke on behalf of the firefighters' families.

Pictured above: Sinn Fein councillor John Brady (left) & Irish Fire & Emergency Services Association John Kidd (right) with relatives of firefighters in background


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