Courts / Dublin / Report

Site foreman fined over asbestos notification failure

Date
2021-12-10

Stage
Sentence

Primary locality
Dublin

County
Dublin

Summary

In a Dublin Circuit Criminal Court hearing, Dennis McAuliffe, 51, a site foreman for McAleer & Rush Ltd, was fined €12,500 for failing to notify two staff members about asbestos on a city centre building site. The incident occurred on 23 June 2016 at Findlater House, Cathal Brugha Street, where a subcontracting team had discovered an asbestos warning sticker under roof tiles. McAuliffe had not informed his own staff after the subcontractors left, and two men began cleaning the site without direction. The Health and Safety Authority (HSA) had sealed the area and investigated, confirming asbestos presence. McAuliffe pleaded guilty, had no prior convictions, and cooperated fully with the HSA. Judge Pauline Codd set a headline fine of €30,000, reduced to €12,500 after mitigating factors, to be paid within 12 months. The case highlighted the importance of proper asbestos notification and site closure procedures.

Who, what, where, when and why

What: Report matter: Site foreman fined over asbestos notification failure. Charges or matters: placing at risk the safety, health or welfare of persons at work at the address on June 23, 2016. Procedural stage: sentence

When:

June 2016 Hearing Or Sentence
June 23, 2016 Hearing Or Sentence
June 2015 Incident
January 2021 Incident
2021-12-10 Publication

Case subjects

Dennis McAuliffe

Defendant

Charges: placing at risk the safety, health or welfare of persons at work at the address on June 23, 2016 (Admitted)

Plea: Guilty

Outcome: Passing sentence, Judge Pauline Codd noted McAuliffe's guilty plea, his compliance throughout the investigation and his excellent work record, which spanned over 30 years.