A shipping company has been fined €850,000 for a breach of health and safety laws that led to a fatal workplace accident at Dublin Port.
James Byrne died instantly when a steel column fell on top of him while he was working for Doyle Shipping Group Unlimited two years ago.
Paula Murray outlined how much her partner, James Byrne, meant to her, their two sons and the wider family.
She described him as a highly-skilled and experienced welder who loved his job.
On June 6th, 2018, he was in the process of dismantling a giant steel hopper used to take loads of grain in from ships at Dublin Port when a six-metre steel column fell on top of him as he was making his way back to his van.
He died instantly.
James Byrne, a welder who died in a workplace accident at Dublin Port in 2018.Following an investigation by the Health and Safety Authority, charges were brought against the company he worked for, the Doyle Shipping Group Unlimited.
It admitted failing to manage the dismantling of the hopper that day in a way that would have ensured the health and safety of employees and was today fined €850,000.
Afterwards, James’ partner Paula said it was very difficult to come to terms with her loss, especially considering it could have so easily been avoided.
She said: "James was a father, a partner, a brother, an uncle, a best friend, and a mentor.
"Our lives will never be the same as we feel there is a piece of us all missing.
"For a father to go to work and then never come home, it has affected us all something terrible, its something that should never really happen."
Reporting by Frank Greaney
