logo
Kildare construction site that posed ‘danger to workers' lives' closed by HSA

Kildare construction site that posed ‘danger to workers' lives' closed by HSA

Irish Independent15 hours ago
The HSA stressed that the use of Section 71 powers, involving the High Court, is reserved only for the most serious breaches of health and safety law
The Health and Safety Authority (HSA) have secured a High Court order to immediately stop works at a construction site in Co Kildare where they say workers' lives are at risk.
On Wednesday, July 16, the HSA said it secured, on consent of the owner, a Hight Court order under Section 71 of the Safety, Health and Welfare at Work Act 2005, resulting in the immediate prohibition of the use of a construction site located at Bridge Street in Kilcock, Co Kildare.
Orange background

Try Our AI Features

Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:

Comments

No comments yet...

Related Articles

Kinahan bagman stalls CAB seizing home saying he can't get quantity surveyor
Kinahan bagman stalls CAB seizing home saying he can't get quantity surveyor

Irish Daily Mirror

timean hour ago

  • Irish Daily Mirror

Kinahan bagman stalls CAB seizing home saying he can't get quantity surveyor

A convicted Kinahan bagman fighting to stave off the Criminal Assets Bureau (CAB) from seizing his home has pleaded that he can't get the assistance of a quantity surveyor yet as part of his case. Patrick Lawlor and his wife Leonie are contesting the CAB case against them in which their house on Collins Avenue West in Dublin is being targeted. Patrick was one of three men jailed for seven years in October 2022 following an investigation by the Garda National Drugs and Organised Crime Bureau into a major transnational organised crime gang which took in more than €12m in 2019 and spent €98,000 on encrypted phones in the same year. It was run by George Mitchell, the Dublin criminal known as 'the Penguin' who left the country over 25 years ago and was since targeted by the Criminal Assets Bureau, who took almost three quarters of a million euro from him. At a previous High Court hearing, Ms Lawlor told the court she is still living in the family home and had filed affidavits in response to the CAB proceedings against her and her husband to seize the family home. Ms Lawlor also told the court then that her three children are grown up but she is still living in the family home and continues to pay the mortgage from legitimate income. They purchased the house in 2007. However, the CAB case centred on income generated between 2010 and 2020. 18/12/2024 - This house is on Collins Avenue West is currently owned by convicted money launderer Patrick Lawlor and his wife Leonie. (Image: Padraig O'Reilly) Judge Alexander Owens said that there is substantial value embedded in the home that is not the proceeds of crime. Last month the couple were granted legal aid for a junior counsel and a solicitor. At this week's sitting of the High Court, defence counsel for Lawlors' said they have not yet retained 'an expert witness,' and there is 'no agreement as yet.' The expert witness is a quantity surveyor to survey the property. 'They are still engaged with firms and I am suggesting an October date to allow them to engage an expert witness,' counsel said. Counsel for CAB said they are seeking a date in September to reply to the defendants' affidavits and requested the case be put into an October date for mention. Agreeing with the October date, Mr Justice Alexander Owens remarked: 'We need to get on with it.' 13/02/2025 - This is Leonie Lawlor photographed at her home at Collins Avenue West (Image: Padraig O'Reilly) None of the details of CAB's case against the couple have been opened in court. During the sentencing hearing in October 2022 for Lawlor and a taxi driver, Ross Hanway from Ashbourne, Co Meath, who was jailed for four years, Dublin Circuit Court heard that the transactions were lodged in ledgers kept by Patrick Lawlor. Lawlor received monthly cash payments of €5,000 while Hanway was initially paid €1,250, which rose to €4,000 by 2019. The court heard the men were only involved in money laundering and not in drugs. Hanway of The Beeches, Archerstown Demense, Ashbourne, Co Meath, pleaded guilty to possessing €412,000 on May 26, 2020, which was the proceeds of crime while Lawlor of Collins Avenue West, Whitehall, Dublin 9 pleaded guilty to possessing €412,000 on May 26, 2020 which was the proceeds of crime. Lawlor also pleaded guilty to possession of €477,370 in cash, £6,920 Sterling, 1,940 Romanian Lei (approximately €400), 187 Ukrainian Hryvnia Lei (approximately €5) and $3,295 US Dollars. Lawlor further pleaded guilty to possession of an encrypted mobile phone. Judge Melanie Greally said 'it does not take any leap of imagination to infer' that money seized by gardaí had originated from serious criminal activity. She said both Hanway and Lawlor Sr received financial rewards for their roles in the money laundering operation. Subscribe to our newsletter for the latest news from the Irish Mirror direct to your inbox: Sign up here.

Kildare construction site that posed ‘danger to workers' lives' closed by HSA
Kildare construction site that posed ‘danger to workers' lives' closed by HSA

Irish Independent

time15 hours ago

  • Irish Independent

Kildare construction site that posed ‘danger to workers' lives' closed by HSA

The HSA stressed that the use of Section 71 powers, involving the High Court, is reserved only for the most serious breaches of health and safety law The Health and Safety Authority (HSA) have secured a High Court order to immediately stop works at a construction site in Co Kildare where they say workers' lives are at risk. On Wednesday, July 16, the HSA said it secured, on consent of the owner, a Hight Court order under Section 71 of the Safety, Health and Welfare at Work Act 2005, resulting in the immediate prohibition of the use of a construction site located at Bridge Street in Kilcock, Co Kildare.

Landowner tipped over ESB tractor with driver inside to stop tree trimming, court told
Landowner tipped over ESB tractor with driver inside to stop tree trimming, court told

Irish Times

timea day ago

  • Irish Times

Landowner tipped over ESB tractor with driver inside to stop tree trimming, court told

A landowner, who has allegedly prevented ESB contractors from cutting down trees that could cause power cuts, overturned a tractor while its driver was inside, it was claimed in the High Court. Tom O'Shea, of Stellrose, Wheelam, Milltown, Newbridge, Co Kildare, had interfered with efforts to trim trees on land he owns in 2009. He was ultimately brought before the High Court for breaching undertakings not to do so. On May 6th this year, the ESB attended lands he owns, over which the Cushaling-Newbridge 110kV overhead lines run, to start work on cutting back growth. It was taking this action under a statutory power it has to access lands with such lines. Mr O'Shea had been notified . In a sworn statement for court, Stephen Mortimer, high voltage and cables central region project leader, said Mr O'Shea arrived later that morning and told them to leave. He said if they were not out in an hour, 'I will pull down the line', Mr Mortimer said. READ MORE He headed back in the direction of his farmyard, returned and then got into his own tracked digger. He used the digger to tip over the tractor with the driver inside, he said. Attempts to disable Mr O'Shea's digger failed when he fought back, and two injured parties backed off, Mr Mortimer said. Mr O'Shea then locked his digger and walked back towards his home. Gardaí were called and they later arrested Mr O'Shea, whose licensed firearm was seized by the Garda Armed Support Unit. The two injured parties were taken to hospital. Two further attempts were made to access the land and on the last one, on June 18th, it emerged Mr O'Shea had locked a gate into the field, blocking access. Mr Mortimer said an injunction was now required due to the defendant's persistent refusal to allow access. The works are required to ensure the health and safety of anybody on the lands and to ensure critical maintenance planned for this season can be carried out, he said. There are four lines on the land and there is a serious risk that the interference will lead to supply disruption to an extensive volume of customers, he said. Two 110kV lines serve the greater eastern and midland region and another 38kV line serves around 18,000 customers. There is a possibility thatcustomers could be left without power and there could be a severe impact on the national grid, he said. On Wednesday, Mr Justice Brian Cregan granted permission to serve proceedings on Mr O'Shea following a one-side-only represented application by Stephen Dodd SC, for the ESB. The judge said that given the urgency of the matter, it could come back before the court on Friday.

DOWNLOAD THE APP

Get Started Now: Download the App

Ready to dive into a world of global content with local flavor? Download Daily8 app today from your preferred app store and start exploring.
app-storeplay-store