A Co Cork steel-making firm which closed down two years ago was fined €5,000 yesterday.
It was found guilty by a jury of breaching a count of the Health and Safety Act arising out of the death of one of its employees during a fire.
The charge arose from an incident at the Irish Ispat plant in Haulbowline, Co Cork, during which a plant worker in a laboratory was put in danger during the transfer of molten steel.
Mr Thomas Mulcahy (53) lost his life following the fire at the Irish Ispat plant on January 15th, 2001. Mr Mulcahy became trapped in the laboratory in which he was working after a fire broke out during the transfer of molten steel.
His colleagues tried in vain to break a window of the laboratory with a crowbar in order to rescue him.
Cork Circuit Criminal Court heard yesterday that Irish Ispat went into liquidation in June of 2001.
Mr Pearse Sreenan, who was appearing on behalf of the liquidators, made a plea for leniency in relation to the monetary penalty imposed.
He said that a large fine would only serve to reduce the money which would be available to ordinary suppliers and creditors of the company.
On sentencing, Judge Sean Ó Donnabháin said that normally in cases of this nature a large fine was handed down in order to act as a warning to companies who breach health and safety laws.
However, he said that there was little point in fining the company a substantial amount because it was no longer in operation.
He fined the company €5,000, giving its liquidators six months to pay the money.