THE HEALTH and Safety Authority (HSA) is conducting an examination of a coroner’s file on the death of a 24-year-old electrician who suffered head injuries when a boiler exploded at a Dublin sweet factory in 2007.
Stephen O’Brien, of Lower Rathmullen Road, Drogheda, Co Louth, died from head injuries at the Mater hospital on October 5th, 2007, following an explosion at the Haribo Dunhill factory in Finglas on the previous day. It was Mr O’Brien’s second week working there.
A file was sent to the DPP and no prosecutions were directed.
Mr O’Brien’s father, Seán O’Brien, said he is hopeful a prosecution may be directed following a decision by the HSA to examine the Dublin City coroner’s file into his son’s death.
At Dublin City Coroner’s Court last May, a jury at an inquest into Mr O’Brien’s death returned a verdict of death by misadventure, under the direction of coroner Dr Brian Farrell.
“It is our understanding the HSA is going to send the findings of their review back to the DPP,” said Mr O’Brien. “I’d hope the DPP will look at the 2005 Act and will recommend a prosecution. We want to see justice done and to get on with our lives and hold on to our memories,” he said.
The inquest heard that for about a week before the explosion there had been a problem with a steam boiler which was vital to production at the factory and that it had stopped working on the morning of the explosion. Closed-circuit television footage showed Mr O’Brien, accompanied by another worker who was injured in the incident, entering the boiler room with tools in his hands about 15 minutes before the explosion.
An investigation by the HSA found that a white connector block used to bypass a faulty part in a steam boiler was incorrectly wired. It concluded that the source of the explosion was a result of “bunching” of wires in the burner control panel and that the bunching was carried out by Mr O’Brien.
The Coroner’s Court jury recommended that all new employees should be supervised and/or work-accompanied by an experienced member of staff until an adequate induction period had elapsed.
A spokesman for the HSA confirmed the authority is examining the coroner’s file into the death of Mr O’Brien and said he could not make any further comment.