Courts / Dublin / Report
Company fined €600k over death of worker knocked down at quarry
Summary
In March 2024, Shannon Valley Plant Hire Ltd was fined €600,000 after the death of Christopher Miley, a 31‑year‑old worker who was knocked down by a digger at Behan Quarry in Rathcoole on 28 October 2021. Miley was refuelling vehicles for the company in wet, dark, windy conditions, with no lighting, traffic marshal or designated refuelling area. The court found that Shannon Valley failed to ensure the health, safety and welfare of individuals on the site, and that Behan Aggregates and Recycling Ltd, the quarry operator, failed to maintain suitable operating procedures. The fine for Shannon Valley was the maximum allowed in such cases, while Behan Aggregates received a €50,000 fine. The judge highlighted a "certain level of complacency" on site and the lack of adequate safety measures. The case was heard in Dublin Circuit Criminal Court, with the families of the deceased present for the sentencing. The companies had no prior health and safety breaches. The unnamed man pleaded guilty.
Who, what, where, when and why
What: Report matter: Company fined €600k over death of worker knocked down at quarry. Charges or matters: one count of failing to ensure the health, safety and welfare of individuals on their work site; one count of failing to ensure suitable operating procedures at the site. Procedural stage: sentence
When:
- October 28, 2021 Hearing Or Sentence
- 2024-03-19 Publication
Case subjects
Defendant
Charges: one count of failing to ensure the health, safety and welfare of individuals on their work site; one count of failing to ensure suitable operating procedures at the site (Admitted)
Plea: Guilty
Outcome: A plant hire and construction company has been fined €600,000 in relation to a worker who died when he was knocked down at a quarry site.
Places mentioned
Topics
Related court reports
- Supervisor in 'sophisticated' drug operation jailed for ten years
- 'Senseless and violent': robbers who went on to reoffend despite been given chance by judge are jailed
- Driver charged with causing death of cyclist Gretchen Price
- Man gets eight years for killing sister's partner
- Woman claimed more than €25k in allowances for dead son
- Stabbing victim's mother tells court 'there will always be a stain' on her heart
If a fact, identity, locality or legal outcome needs review, email the newsroom with this report's details prefilled.
Email a correction request