Saturday 31 October 2026Compiled from published reports. Every claim links to its source.

Ireland Crime

Every case followed from the first report to the sentence, or to where the reporting stopped.

Case No. 20154Health and safety offences (fatal incident) · Co. Limerick · 29 Aug 2015

Court of Appeal upholds €25,000 fine on crane company over Limerick bridge drownings

Two men, Bryan Whelan (29) of O'Briensbridge, County Clare, and TJ O'Herlihy (36) of Castleisland, County Kerry, died on 29 August 2015 when a steel cage suspended from a crane plunged into the river Shannon while they were doing cleaning and repointing work on Thomond Bridge in Limerick city. Palfinger Ireland Ltd, which supplied the crane, pleaded guilty to breaches of the Health and Safety at Work Act and was fined €25,000 at Limerick Circuit Court on 7 October 2022. Nationwide Crane Hire Ltd was separately fined €200,000 after pleading guilty to breaches of the same Act. The Director of Public Prosecutions appealed the Palfinger fine as unduly lenient, but the Court of Appeal dismissed the appeal and found the sentence was not unduly lenient, a ruling reported on 28 July 2023.

  1. Reportednot reported
  2. Arrestednot reported
  3. Chargednot reported
  4. In courtnot reported
  5. Verdictnot reported
  6. Sentenced28 Jul
reportedhappened, not reportedlatest stagenot yet

Key facts

consolidated from all reports
What happened
Two stonemasons, Bryan Whelan (29) of O'Briensbridge, County Clare, and TJ O'Herlihy (36) of Castleisland, County Kerry, drowned when a steel cage suspended from a crane plunged into the river Shannon.
Where
The men were doing cleaning and repointing work on Thomond Bridge in Limerick city.
When
The drownings happened on 29 August 2015.
Cause
  • A safety mechanism on the crane that held the cage failed to operate.
  • The prosecution of Palfinger Ireland Ltd arose because a manual it supplied with the crane had a missing chapter.
Other details
  • Palfinger Ireland Ltd supplied the crane to Nationwide Crane Hire Ltd in 2003.
  • A third colleague, Paul Murphy of Askeaton, County Limerick, was working with the two men on the bridge at the time.
Investigation
The Health and Safety Authority investigated and brought the prosecutions.
Charges
  • Palfinger Ireland Ltd pleaded guilty to breaches of the Health and Safety at Work Act.
  • Nationwide Crane Hire Ltd pleaded guilty to breaches of the Health and Safety at Work Act.
Sentence
  • Palfinger Ireland Ltd was fined €25,000 at Limerick Circuit Court on 7 October 2022.
  • Nationwide Crane Hire Ltd was fined €200,000.
In court
  • The Director of Public Prosecutions appealed the Palfinger Ireland Ltd fine as unduly lenient.
  • Ms Justice Tara Burns delivered the Court of Appeal judgment, which dismissed the appeal and found the sentence was not unduly lenient, as reported on 28 July 2023.
13 statements extracted from the articles
  • whatTwo stonemasons drowned after a steel cage suspended from a crane plunged into the river Shannon. (limerickleader.ie)
  • whereThe men were doing cleaning and repointing work on Thomond Bridge in Limerick city. (limerickleader.ie)
  • whenThe drownings happened on 29 August 2015. (limerickleader.ie)
  • causeA safety mechanism on the crane that held the cage failed to operate. (limerickleader.ie)
  • causeThe prosecution of Palfinger arose because a manual it supplied with the crane had a missing chapter. (limerickleader.ie)
  • investigationThe Health and Safety Authority investigated and brought the prosecutions. (limerickleader.ie)
  • chargePalfinger pleaded guilty to breaches of the Health and Safety at Work Act. (limerickleader.ie)
  • courtThe Director of Public Prosecutions appealed the Palfinger fine as unduly lenient. (limerickleader.ie)
  • courtMs Justice Tara Burns delivered the Court of Appeal judgment. (limerickleader.ie)
  • courtThe Court of Appeal dismissed the appeal and found the sentence was not unduly lenient. (limerickleader.ie)
  • sentencePalfinger was fined €25,000 at Limerick Circuit Court on 7 October 2022. (limerickleader.ie)
  • sentenceNationwide Crane Hire was fined €200,000 after pleading guilty to breaches of the Health and Safety at Work Act. (limerickleader.ie)
  • otherPalfinger supplied the crane in use to Nationwide Crane Hire Ltd in 2003. (limerickleader.ie)

The reporting

newest first
  1. 28 Jul2023
    Sentencedlimerickleader.ie, first report
    Court of Appeal upholds fine imposed on crane company following Limerick bridge drownings

    Reports the Court of Appeal's dismissal of the State's appeal against the fine on Palfinger and the separate €200,000 fine on Nationwide Crane Hire, and gives the background of the 2015 drownings.

    victim, Bryan Whelan, 29, irish (judged from name)Bryan Whelanvictim, TJ O'Herlihy, 36, irish (judged from name)TJ O'Herlihyvictim, Paul Murphy, irish (judged from name)Paul Murphyconvicted, Palfinger Ireland Ltd, namedPalfinger Ireland Ltdconvicted, Nationwide Crane Hire Ltd, namedNationwide Crane Hire Ltd