A general practitioner who also operates a sand quarry which has been closed down by court order agreed before the High Court that he was in breach of health and safety regulations at the quarry.
Mr Justice Kelly told Dr Denis (Christy) Higgins, trading as DCH Sand, Terryland, Galway, who owns a sand pit at Ballyglunin, Tuam, that it was a disturbing case. "A doctor, above all people, should be aware of the danger of serious injury, death and misery that could be caused by unsafe conditions of work.
"Regrettably, Dr Higgins, on his own admission, was in breach of the health and safety regulations to a substantial extent," he said.
He gave the doctor two weeks to attend to matters in an assessment report and said a perimeter fence should be erected.