Man crushed by fuel tank

Man dies in Ballina workplace accident


Trevor Quinn

A 50-year-old Lithuanian man, who was working for a Monaghan based haulage company, died in a workplace incident in Ballina on Thursday morning when a fuel tank slipped and he became trapped underneath it.
The fatal incident occurred at the Bus Éireann depot in the town. A number of Bus Éireann workers were also at the scene when the accident occurred and they are assisting gardai and the Health and Safety Authority with their separate investigations.
It is believed that the fuel tank was being unloaded from a delivery truck in the depot yard when the accident occurred. A doctor from a nearby surgery attended the scene almost immediately after the incident but the man was pronounced dead shortly afterwards.
The deceased married father of two who has been named as Luidas Padragas. Mr Padragas had been working for Carrickmacross based haulage company O’Reilly Transport, and it is understood he had been living in Carrickmacross for a number of years.
An inquest was opened into his death yesterday as Lithuanian Embassy officials are eager to repatriate the body. The inquest has been adjourned while gardai compile evidence and piece together details of the incident.