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Irish Examiner
2 days ago
- Irish Examiner
Cork farmer pleads guilty to charges in relation to fatal farm accident
A Cork farmer has pleaded guilty to two charges in relation to an accident that occurred on her farm in 2020 that resulted in the death of a neighbour. Mary O'Riordan, of Curragh, Lissarda, Co Cork, pleaded guilty to two charges under the Safety, Health and Welfare at Work Act 2005 both relating to a failure to discharge a duty. Suzanne Gorey, prosecuting, said the charges being brought were under Section 77 of the act, subsections 2a and 9a. Giving evidence, Health and Safety Authority inspector Frances Murphy said the incident occurred at Ms O'Riordan's premises on April 14, 2020. The court was told the deceased man, Declan Flynn, and another neighbour John Kingston, were working on refurbishing the roof of an outbuilding at the farm. The incident happened during the covid pandemic and as he was not able to go to work, Mr Flynn agreed to help out with the roof renovations. Ms Murphy said the two men began work on the roof at around 10am. In the afternoon, they were removing nails from some galvanised sheeting when a beam underneath Mr Flynn gave way and he fell approximately five metres to the floor below and sustained serious head injuries. The court heard Mr Flynn was taken to Cork University Hospital where he died as a result of the injuries on May 5, 2020. The court was told that a report prepared by assistant state pathologist Dr Margot Bolster stated that Mr Flynn died as a result of severe brain trauma resulting from injuries sustained in the fall. Defence solicitor Jack Purcell said that Ms O'Riordan had no previous convictions. Judge Joanne Carroll said she would have liked to have finalised the matter on the day but agreed to an adjournment to allow for the preparation of a victim impact statement by the deceased man's family. The judge said: 'I understand you need time to reflect on this and collect your thoughts. There is no rush.' The case was adjourned to September 3.
The Irish Sun
12-06-2025
- Sport
- The Irish Sun
Irish jockey Michael O'Sullivan's cause of death confirmed as inquest hears rider died from ‘traumatic brain injury'
CHELTENHAM Festival-winning jockey Michael O'Sullivan died from a 'severe, traumatic brain injury' due to a horse riding accident, his inquest has heard. 4 Michael O'Sullivan fell from his horse while racing at Thurles earlier this year Credit: PA 4 He suffered a 'severe, traumatic brain injury' Credit: PA Dr Bolster carried out a Mr O'Sullivan, from Currabower, Lombardstown, Co Cork died at Cork University The jockey was airlifted to hospital following the serious last fence fall in Thurles, Co He was just days short of his 25th birthday when he passed away ten days later. READ MORE IN HORSE RACING Sergeant Aisling Murphy requested an adjournment of the inquest into the death of the champion jockey to facilitate 'preparatory work'. Cork City Coroner Philip Comyn said the inquest was being opened for the purpose of hearing medical evidence on the cause of death so that a death certificate could be issued to the Inspector Justin Walsh, from the Health and Safety Authority, confirmed that their Solicitor Denis Linehan, who represents the O'Sullivan family, was also in attendance at the inquest. Most read in The Irish Sun A full hearing of the case will take place at a later date. Michael is survived by his parents William and Bernie, his brother Alan, his partner Charlotte and his grandmother Mary. Michael O'Sullivan's girlfriend hugs jockey Seán Flanagan after Marine Nationale wins at Cheltenham Michael shot to public attention in 2023 when he won the Supreme Novices' Hurdle at In an incredible twist of fate, both horses also won at the Festival this year, just under a month after he was laid to rest. LIFELONG DREAM His father William told mourners that He said that he had his heart set on being a jockey from an early age. Meanwhile, Michael's brother Alan and his cousins, David O'Sullivan and Sonny McCartan, recently took part in the Cork City Marathon to raise funds for Bru Columbanus, a throughout the county. They decided to raise funds for the site in Wilton in Cork as it was a 'safe haven' for the O'Sullivan family when Michael was in intensive care. Over €94,000 has been raised for the charity so far. Donations can still be made online at 4 Huge crowds attended his funeral at St John the Baptist Church in Glantane, Co Cork on February 19 Credit: PA 4 Michael shot to public attention in 2023 when he won the Supreme Novices' Hurdle at Cheltenham Credit: PA
The Sun
12-06-2025
- Sport
- The Sun
Irish jockey Michael O'Sullivan's cause of death confirmed as inquest hears rider died from ‘traumatic brain injury'
CHELTENHAM Festival-winning jockey Michael O'Sullivan died from a 'severe, traumatic brain injury' due to a horse riding accident, his inquest has heard. Cork Coroner's Court heard brief evidence this morning from Assistant State Pathologist Dr Margaret Bolster as to the cause of the death of the 24-year-old on February 16. 4 4 Dr Bolster carried out a post-mortem on the rider at Cork city mortuary the day after his tragic death, following a fatal fall at Thurles racecourse on February 6. Mr O'Sullivan, from Currabower, Lombardstown, Co Cork died at Cork University Hospital after what his family previously described as a 'trojan battle' to recover from his injuries. The jockey was airlifted to hospital following the serious last fence fall in Thurles, Co Tipperary. He was just days short of his 25th birthday when he passed away ten days later. Sergeant Aisling Murphy requested an adjournment of the inquest into the death of the champion jockey to facilitate 'preparatory work'. Cork City Coroner Philip Comyn said the inquest was being opened for the purpose of hearing medical evidence on the cause of death so that a death certificate could be issued to the family of the deceased. Inspector Justin Walsh, from the Health and Safety Authority, confirmed that their investigation in to the death is yet to be completed. Solicitor Denis Linehan, who represents the O'Sullivan family, was also in attendance at the inquest. A full hearing of the case will take place at a later date. Michael is survived by his parents William and Bernie, his brother Alan, his partner Charlotte and his grandmother Mary. Michael shot to public attention in 2023 when he won the Supreme Novices' Hurdle at Cheltenham aboard Marine Nationale before going on to win the Fred Winter with Jazzy Matty. In an incredible twist of fate, both horses also won at the Festival this year, just under a month after he was laid to rest. Huge crowds attended his funeral at St John the Baptist Church in Glantane, Co Cork on February 19. LIFELONG DREAM His father William told mourners that Michael would want his loved ones to find joy in life in spite of his passing. He said that he had his heart set on being a jockey from an early age. Meanwhile, Michael's brother Alan and his cousins, David O'Sullivan and Sonny McCartan, recently took part in the Cork City Marathon to raise funds for Bru Columbanus, a charity that offers free accommodation to families of seriously ill patients in hospitals throughout the county. They decided to raise funds for the site in Wilton in Cork as it was a 'safe haven' for the O'Sullivan family when Michael was in intensive care. Over €94,000 has been raised for the charity so far. Donations can still be made online at 4 4
Irish Independent
12-06-2025
- Sport
- Irish Independent
Irish jockey Michael O'Sullivan died from catastrophic head injuries after fall at Thurles race meeting, inquest told
Cork Coroner's Court heard evidence of the cause of the death in the tragedy before adjourning the inquest to a future date. Coroner Philip Comyn granted the adjournment application to Sgt Aisling Murphy. She told the inquest that preparatory work was still ongoing in respect of the hearing. Mr Comyn said that, since the medical evidence had been heard, a death certificate could now be issued to Mr O'Sullivan's family. Assistant State Pathologist Dr Margaret Bolster said she performed a post mortem examination at Cork University Hospital (CUH) on February 17. She ruled that the cause of death was a severe traumatic brain injury complicated by brain swelling with a cerebral infarction due to a horse riding accident. Inspector Justin Walsh from the Health and Safety Authority (HSA) said its investigation into the tragedy remained ongoing and no final report had been completed. Mr Comyn confirmed that a hearing date will be confirmed at a future time when all relevant inquiries are completed. Mr O'Sullivan suffered critical injuries in a fall during a race at Thurles on February 6. He died 10 days later at Cork University Hospital (CUH) despite efforts to save his life. The talented jockey - who was from Lombardstown outside Mallow in north Cork - died just a few days short of his 25th birthday. ADVERTISEMENT Considered one of Ireland's emerging young racing stars, he had posted winners at multiple race meetings including at the Cheltenham festival. He is survived by his parents, William and Bernie, his brother Alan, partner Charlotte and extended family. In a moving tribute, his family posted in his death notice that: "Michael had accomplished so much in his short life. As a family we are so incredibly proud not only of his achievements in the saddle, but of the extraordinary young man he had become. He was full of kindness, integrity, ambition and love, always striving to be the best person he could be." They said he died despite "a trojan" battle to recover from his injuries. His funeral involved tributes from racing stables across Ireland, England, Wales and Scotland. The Irish Horseracing Regulatory Board (IHRB) conducted a critical incident review immediately after the tragedy. Mr O'Sullivan suffered his fatal injuries when five horses and jockeys were involved in a chain reaction of falls. The incident occurred at the final fence. Mr O'Sullivan suffered critical head injuries when his horse, Wee Charlie, fell. His mount later had to be euthanised because of a fractured leg. None of the other four jockeys suffered serious injuries. The IHRB review included video analysis, eye witness accounts of the incident and post-fall inspections. The review was finalised in early March and its findings released on March 25. It found that there was no evidence of human error in the incident while equipment failure and environmental factors were also ruled out as primary causes. The report found that the incident was as a consequence of the inherent risks of National Hunt racing. It found that a series of independent falls had triggered "an unavoidable chain reaction." However, it did make a number of recommendations. These included expanded racecourse safety training with specific focus on multi-horse incidents, advanced medical training for dealing with situations involving head injuries, a review of track configurations, watering at courses like Thurles to ensure ground consistency, post mortems to be mandated for equine fatalities and standardised sedation safety procedures. It also recommended that an exploration be conducted for technology to assess horse suitability to race. IHRB chief executive Darragh O'Loughlin praised the work of medical professionals on the day. 'This tragic incident has deeply affected the horseracing community, and our thoughts remain with Michael O'Sullivan's family and friends, his colleagues and all those touched by his loss," he said last March. "The professionalism of our emergency teams was exemplary but we are committed to learning from this event. These recommendations reflect our resolve to enhance safety while preserving the integrity of the sport we regulate." 'The IHRB maintains a relentless focus on safety to minimise the risk of racing related injury or harm to all participants. We owe it to Michael, to our riders, and to everyone in our sport to keep pushing forward." The IHRB noted last March that, following a reconfiguration of Thurles race track in 2020, fall rates had been reduced from 9.9pc to 3.8pc. "However, this incident underscores the unpredictable nature of racing and the need for continuous improvement." The IHRB said it would continue its "relentless focus on safety".
Irish Independent
12-06-2025
- Sport
- Irish Independent
Irish jockey Michael O'Sullivan died from catastrophic head injuries after fall at Thurles race meeting
Cork Coroner's Court heard evidence of the cause of the death in the tragedy before adjourning the inquest to a future date. Coroner Philip Comyn granted the adjournment application to Sgt Aisling Murphy. She told the inquest that preparatory work was still ongoing in respect of the hearing. Mr Comyn said that, since the medical evidence had been heard, a death certificate could now be issued to Mr O'Sullivan's family. Assistant State Pathologist Dr Margaret Bolster said she performed a post mortem examination at Cork University Hospital (CUH) on February 17 last. She ruled that the cause of death was a severe traumatic brain injury complicated by brain swelling with a cerebral infarction due to a horse riding accident. Inspector Justin Walsh from the Health and Safety Authority (HSA) said that their investigation into the tragedy remained ongoing and no final report has been completed. Mr Comyn confirmed that a hearing date will be confirmed at a future time when all relevant inquiries are completed. Mr O'Sullivan suffered critical injuries in a fall during a race at Thurles on February 6 last. He died 10 days later at Cork University Hospital (CUH) despite an heroic battle to recover from his injuries. ADVERTISEMENT The talented jockey - who was from Lombardstown outside Mallow in north Cork - died just a few days short of his 25th birthday. Considered one of Ireland's emerging young racing stars, he had posted winners at multiple race meetings including at the Cheltenham festival. He is survived by his parents, William and Bernie, his brother Alan, partner Charlotte and extended family. In a moving tribute, his family posted in his death notice that: "Michael had accomplished so much in his short life. As a family we are so incredibly proud not only of his achievements in the saddle, but of the extraordinary young man he had become. He was full of kindness, integrity, ambition and love, always striving to be the best person he could be." They said he died despite "a trojan" battle to recover from his injuries. His funeral involved tributes from racing stables across Ireland, England, Wales and Scotland. The Irish Horseracing Regulatory Board (IHRB) conducted a critical incident review immediately after the tragedy. Mr O'Sullivan suffered his fatal injuries when five horses and jockeys were involved in a chain reaction of falls. The incident occurred at the final fence. Mr O'Sullivan suffered critical head injuries when his horse, Wee Charlie, fell. His mount later had to be euthanised because of a fractured leg. None of the other four jockeys suffered serious injuries. The IHRB review included video analysis, eye witness accounts of the incident and post-fall inspections. The review was finalised in early March and its findings released on March 25. It found that there was no evidence of human error in the incident while equipment failure and environmental factors were also ruled out as primary causes. The report found that the incident was as a consequence of the inherent risks of National Hunt Racing. It found that a series of independent falls had triggered "an unavoidable chain reaction." However, it did make a number of recommendations. These included expanded racecourse safety training with specific focus on multi-horse incidents, advanced medical training for dealing with situations involving head injuries, a review of track configurations, watering at courses like Thurles to ensure ground consistency, post mortems to be mandated for equine fatalities and standardised sedation safety procedures. It also recommended that an exploration be conducted for technology to assess horse suitability to race. IHRB chief executive Darragh O'Loughlin praised the work of medical professionals on the day. 'This tragic incident has deeply affected the horseracing community, and our thoughts remain with Michael O'Sullivan's family and friends, his colleagues and all those touched by his loss," he said last March. "The professionalism of our emergency teams was exemplary but we are committed to learning from this event." "These recommendations reflect our resolve to enhance safety while preserving the integrity of the sport we regulate." 'The IHRB maintains a relentless focus on safety to minimise the risk of racing related injury or harm to all participants." "We owe it to Michael, to our riders, and to everyone in our sport to keep pushing forward." The IHRB noted last March that, following a reconfiguration of Thurles race track in 2020, fall rates had been reduced from 9.9pc to 3.8pc. "However, this incident underscores the unpredictable nature of racing and the need for continuous improvement." The IHRB said it would continue its "relentless focus on safety."
