Company fined over death of Limerick farmer in gate accident

A FARM supply company has been fined €400,000 following the death of a Limerick farmer in 2020. On July 27...

A FARM supply company has been fined €400,000 following the death of a Limerick farmer in 2020.

On July 27, 2026, Dairymaster Unlimited Company, Causeway, County Kerry, was fined by Judge Simon McAleese at Limerick Circuit Criminal Court after pleading guilty to breaches of safety, health, and welfare at work legislation.

The case arose following a fatal work-related incident which occurred at a dairy farm in County Limerick on July 30, 2020. A farmer was fatally injured from a pneumatic-powered parlour back entry gate, designed and manufactured by Dairymaster Unlimited Company.

This gate was used to control animals in the milking parlour, creating a separation between the holding area and the cow standing area, and keeping the cows in position while being milked.

Dairymaster Unlimited Company had previously pleaded guilty to six charges in breach of safety, health, and welfare at work legislation.

Judge McAleese imposed a fine of €200,000 on the breach of Section 16(3) of the Safety, Health, and Welfare at Work Act 2005 contrary to Section 77(2)(a) and a fine of €200,000 on the breach of Section 16(1)(a) of the Safety, Health, and Welfare at Work Act 2005 contrary to Section 77(9)(a). The remaining counts were taken into consideration.

Chief Executive Officer at the HSA, Mark Cullen, said: “This tragic incident demonstrates the vital importance of ensuring machinery is properly designed, tested and supplied with adequate safety information. Manufacturers have a responsibility to ensure their products are safe for use at work. The consequences of failing to do so can be devastating.”