John Fletcher Ltd fined €400,000 over workplace death

This report is a localnews.ie summary based on public court reporting and records; sources are listed below.

John Fletcher Ltd was fined €400,000 for employer safety offences following the death of Alan Mulhall. The proceedings were reported on 6 March 2025. Mr Mulhall was fatally injured at St Patrick’s Hospital on 23 November 2017 when a 760kg switchgear fell and struck his head.

The company pleaded guilty to failing to discharge employer duties in a breach that resulted in Mr Mulhall’s death. It also pleaded guilty to two further employer-duty counts and failing to take organisational measures to avoid manual handling by employees. Director David Fletcher entered the pleas on the company’s behalf. He also pleaded guilty to two counts of failing to discharge employer duties.

Judge Martin Nolan said the plan to transport and unload the equipment was a “totally misconceived idea”. He fined the company €400,000 and David Fletcher €5,000, both payable within six months.