A Westmeath subcontractor who threw pebbles on a roof to show workers possible danger spots will be sentenced at a later date by Judge Frank O'Donnell at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court for breaching safety regulations.
Martin Byrne, of Ballybeg, Moate, pleaded guilty to failing to provide a safety statement and a safe place of work at Kylemore Foods Group Limited, McKee Avenue, Finglas, on April 12th, 2003.
Insp Kevin Broderick, of the Health and Safety Authority, said Byrne was a subcontractor to Sovereign Engineering on a refurbishment job at Kylemore which involved roof work. The case arose from an incident in which aman employed by him fell six metres from the roof to the floor.
Insp Broderick told prosecuting counsel Patrick McGrath BL that Eddie O'Reilly fell through a hole left in the roof after air vents had been removed. Insp Broderick said Byrne failed to prepare a safety statement that would have identified the hazards and failed to ensure a safe place for work through failing to identify the roof openings being created.
Byrne maintained he had given sufficient indication about safety hazards and said he had done that by firing pebbles at areas he believed the workers should look out for.
