The director of a quarry company was personally fined £4,000 (#5,078) and ordered to pay £500 in costs as a result of a quarry accident which caused the death of man.

Mr Michael McDaid of Crisakeel, Co Donegal, rather than his limited company McDaid Quarries, was prosecuted by the Health and Safety Authority, following the death of Mr John Doherty in a quarry accident in February 2000.

Health and Safety inspector Mr Aidan McTiernan said he welcomed the outcome as it showed directors could not hide behind the limited liability status of their companies to avoid criminal liability.

Mr Doherty was fatally injured while operating an excavator at the quarry in Crisakeel.

There were nine deaths in the mining and quarry sector in the past five years.