Fines totalling £50,000 were imposed today for health and safety breaches which resulted in the death of a "wholly innocent" trainee mechanic.
South West College student Neil Graham, 17, lost his life in Enniskillen on May 22, 2018 working underneath a tractor whilst on work placement.
As he imposed the fines to two Co Fermanagh men and a farming business, Judge Ramsey branded the fatal incident as "heartbreaking" and "monumentally tragic."
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Gordon Brown, 63, of Boho Road in Enniskillen, admitted a charge of being an employer and failing to provide a safe system of work and was fined £20,000.
Jamie Loane, 27, from Derrybrick Road in Kesh, pleaded guilty to a charge of being an employee and failing to take reasonable care for the health and safety of himself and others. A fine of £10,000 was also imposed upon him.
Loane's family farming business – C&V Loane Limited of the same address in Kesh – admitted a charge failing to ensure a non-employee was not exposed to risks to health and safety. It was also fined £20,000 by Judge Ramsey.
All the charges occurred on May 22, 2018 – the day the trainee mechanic from Garrison who was branded a "star pupil" by his tutors lost his life.
In May 2018 he was on work placement with Brown's agricultural engineering firm in Enniskillen and on the day in question was working on a Massey Ferguson brought in for repair by the Loane family.
Crown barrister Philip Mateer KC said faults were reported in the tractor's gearing mechanism and Brown instructed Neil to wash the vehicle before any repairs could begin.
