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Firm fined E1m over death of 2 people

Monday, February 25 14:08:48

A fine of E1million was imposed on Nolan Transport today by Judge Fullam in the Wexford Circuit Court over an accident involving the deaths of two people.

The company pleaded guilty to a breach of Section 12 of the Safety, Health and Welfare at Work Act 2005, contrary to Section 77(9).

The case arose following a joint investigation by the Health and Safety Authority and An Garda Siochana into an accident causing the death of two members of the public, and injuries to others, on a stretch of road at Stroan/Kilfane West, Thomastown, Co. Kilkenny.

Mary Lonergan and Vanessa McGarry, were fatally injured on Thursday 19th July 2007 at approximately 9.00am when the cars they were driving were struck by a load of metal coils being transported by Nolan Transport from Rosslare, Co. Wexford to Tegral Metal Forming Ltd. in Athy, Co. Kildare.

The truck and semi-trailer unit carrying a load of 6 steel coils weighing over 25 tonne collided with traffic.

The trailer shed its load on a bend with the coils striking two cars and the truck crashing into another car. The truck and semi-trailer were owned by Nolan Transport and the driver, Rafal Luszacki, was employed by Nolan Transport.

After the sentencing hearing, Martin O'Halloran, Chief Executive of the Health and Safety Authority said, "A failure to ensure loads are restrained and secured can lead them to become unstable while being transported. In this case, those failures lead to tragedy. Employers, vehicle owners, loading and unloading staff and drivers should be aware that they have responsibilities in this area."