Wicklow County Council has pleaded guilty to 3 criminal breaches of safety legislation during a trial arising from the deaths of two fire fighters.

Father of 15, Brian Murray (46) and Mark O’Shaughnessy (26) died fighting the blaze at a disused ink factory at Adelaide Villas in Bray on September 26th 2007.

Colleagues at the scene compared the blaze and black smoke to a 747 plane crash and said it was like ‘working on a time-bomb’ with people screaming and shouting.

The guilty pleas came on day 9 of the trial at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court.

Thomas Murphy, on behalf of the council, admitted there were failures in ensuring the health, safety and welfare of its fire fighters at Bray Fire Station.

A safety statement for Wicklow Fire Service had not been reviewed in circumstances where it was fair to believe it was no longer valid.

Members of firefighter Brian Murray's family leaving court

The council has admitted that it failed to provide a system which would have ensured adequate back up for the crew on the day of the fatal fire. It is also accepted that employees had not received sufficient training on a new fire pump in use that day.

Brian Murray and Mark O’Shaughnessy lost their lives when they went inside the disused building as part of efforts to put out the fire.

Former Bray Station Officer James Maguire said sending two colleagues in to try rescue them was ‘the hardest decision that anyone has made in their life’.

It was a spark from the welding of the disused factory door that started the fire. The trial heard a crew of 6 were dispatched to the scene from Bray Fire Station when at least 6 more fire fighters were needed.

Defence Barrister Aileen Donnelly, SC, today said that Wicklow County Council wished to express sincere regret for breaching the law. Discharging the jury, Judge Des Hogan said it had been a harrowing case for the witnesses.

Wicklow County Council will be sentenced on July 30th. They face a fine of up to €3 million.

National Chairman of the Irish Fire and Emergency Service Association John Kidd said the families hope lessons can be learned.

Outside the Criminal Courts of Justice, Eddie Sheehy, Wicklow County Manager, said the council again extends its deepest sympathies to the families of Brian Murray and Mark O’Shaughnessy, who he described as ‘two very dedicated and brave fire fighters’.