Courts / Wexford / Report

Haulage firm loses appeal over €1m fine after road deaths incident

Date
2016-02-18
Stage
Appeal
Primary locality
Wexford
County
Wexford

Summary

A major road haulage firm, Roadteam Logistic Solutions (formerly Nolan Transport Limited), was fined €1 million for inadequately securing steel coils that slid off a trailer, killing two motorists and injuring four others in a 2007 accident near Thomastown, Co. Kilkenny. The company pleaded guilty to breaching the Safety, Health and Welfare at Work Act. The fine, imposed by Mr Justice Raymond Fullam in 2013, was the maximum of €3 million but was reduced to €1 million. Roadteam appealed, arguing the penalty was disproportionate to a single omission, but the Court of Appeal dismissed the appeal, finding the fine "just and proportionate" given the gross dereliction of duty and the serious harm caused. The €1 million fine is to be paid over three years. The case highlighted the company's failure to secure heavy loads properly, leading to a fatal road incident.

Who, what, where, when and why

What: Report matter: Haulage firm loses appeal over €1m fine after road deaths incident. Procedural stage: appeal

When:

Why: Holding that the accident was "clearly foreseeable" because of the "dangerous manner in which the load was being transported", Mr Justice Raymond Fullam sitting at Wexford Circuit Criminal Court fined the company €1 million on Februray 25, 2013. CNI source report

Places mentioned

Secondary Mention
Court Venue
  • Wexford
  • Wexford Circuit Criminal Court
  • Court of Appeal

Topics

Stage Appeal

Related court reports

Read the original CNI report

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