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Companies charged with workplace breaches following Corrib gas death

By: 
Edwin McGreal - Mayo News

Case is adjourned to Circuit Criminal Court on June 21

Two companies have been sent forward to the Circuit Criminal Court in Castlebar on charges following a workplace accident which resulted in the death of a man working on the Corrib gas tunnel in 2013. 
Twenty-six year old Lars Wagner was killed, in September 2013, while he was working on the construction of a tunnel for the Corrib gas project. 
Mr Wagner, a German native, was working on boring a tunnel to carry the project’s gas pipeline under Sruwaddacon Bay to the Corrib gas refinery at Bellenaboy. 
Two companies, BAM Civil Limited and Wayss and Freytag Ingenieurbau AG, were before Belmullet District Court today (Wednesday) where Judge Alan Mitchell was told each company was being sent forward to the Circuit Criminal Court. Each face three similar charges. 
The charges all relate to breaches of the Safety, Health and Welfare at Work Act, 2005. 
Both companies were contracted by Shell to carry out the tunnel boring project in north Mayo. 

Proceedings were initiated after the completion of a report into the accident by the Health and Safety Authority.
Garda Amanda Cunningham gave evidence today of serving the book of evidence to both sides. She told the court that Conor Connelly, a solicitor, received the book of evidence on BAM’s behalf. 
A Director of BAM, Mr Pat McAndrew, was present in court, as were their legal representatives. 
The court then heard that Garda Cunningham served the book of evidence for Wayss and Freytag Ingenieurbau AG to solicitor Tom Browne on their behalf. No director of their company was present but Mr Browne was representing them in court. 
State Solicitor for Mayo, Mr Vincent Deane, applied to have both companies sent forward to appear before Castlebar Circuit Criminal Court on June 21 next. Judge Alan Mitchell consented to this application. 
The State did not seek any conditions regarding bail or a surety.

Posted Date: 
8 June 2016