Two Co Tipperary workmen died in a building site accident at the weekend. They have been named as Mr Philip Kennedy (54), of Bunacum, Toomevara, and Mr Martin Hogan (50), of Garnafada, Toomevara. Both were single.
Up to six men were working on the site outside Toomevara, constructing foundation flooring for a new house when an eight-foot concrete wall collapsed and trapped two of them at lunchtime on Saturday. Gardai believe the two men were trapped between the fallen wall and fresh concrete.
In a statement last night, SIPTU's construction branch secretary, Mr Eric Fleming, said: "We warned that unless immediate action was taken by the Minister to curb this carnage more deaths would follow. Regrettably we were correct."
A fortnight ago, when two men died on a site in Newbridge, Co Kildare, SIPTU said there would be more serious, if not fatal, accidents on building site unless safety measures were taken.
The statement continued: "We further demand that the courts reflect more seriously the breakdown of law in the construction industry and use prison sentences as a deterrent to those who are putting workers lives at risk by their irresponsibility. To date not one prison sentence has been handed down by the Irish courts."
SIPTU is also urging the Health and Safety Authority to use its powers to close construction sites where it is found that workers' lives are at risk.