Courts / Wexford / Report

Haulage firm appeals €1m fine for health & safety breach after deaths of two women

Date
2016-02-02
Stage
Appeal
Primary locality
New Ross
County
Wexford

Summary

Roadteam Logistic Solutions, formerly Nolan Transport Limited, was fined €1 million by Wexford Circuit Criminal Court for breaching section 12 of the Safety, Health and Welfare at Work Act 2005 after a 2007 road accident that killed two women. The company pleaded guilty to a breach of health and safety laws involving an unsecured load that caused the fatalities and injuries to three others. On 25 February 2013, Mr Justice Raymond Fullam imposed the fine, citing the seriousness of the offence and the company's failure to secure the load. The company has now lodged an appeal, arguing that the judge erred in describing the case as "the worst" before the Circuit Court, that the fine was disproportionate to an omission rather than a deliberate act, and that the company had complied with warnings and expressed regret.

Who, what, where, when and why

What: Report matter: Haulage firm appeals €1m fine for health & safety breach after deaths of two women. Charges or matters: an offence which specified that persons were put at risk because of a load not being adequately secured. Procedural stage: appeal

When:

Why: Counsel for the Director of Public Prosecutions, Thomas O'Malley BL, said the company pleaded guilty to an offence which specified that persons were put at risk because of a load not being adequately secured. Prosecution account reported by CNI

Case subjects

Unnamed appellant

Appellant

Charges: an offence which specified that persons were put at risk because of a load not being adequately secured (Admitted)

Plea: Guilty

Outcome: Mr Murphy said his client was sentenced on the basis that what it did was allegedly deliberate and was in alleged disregard of previous warnings but the evidence on all of those points "was silent".

Places mentioned

Address Area
  • A road
Court Venue
  • Wexford
  • Wexford Circuit Criminal Court
Secondary Mention

Topics

Stage Appeal

Related court reports

Read the original CNI report

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