Wednesday 28 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. 2755Workplace death (personal injury/wrongful death) · Co. Limerick · 29 Aug 2015

Family of stonemason killed on Thomond Bridge settle High Court action

The family of Bryan Whelan, a 29-year-old stonemason who drowned in 2015 when a cable holding a work cage on Thomond Bridge, Limerick, snapped, settled a High Court action for an undisclosed sum. The incident also killed colleague TJ Herlihy, while Paul Murphy was rescued from the water.

  1. Reportednot reported
  2. Arrestednot reported
  3. Chargednot reported
  4. In court12 Dec
  5. Verdict
  6. Sentenced
reportedhappened, not reportedlatest stagenot yet

Key facts

consolidated from all reports
11 statements extracted from the articles
  • whatHe was working with two other men, TJ Herlihy and Paul Murphy (irishtimes.com)
  • whatTJ Herlihy also died in the incident while Paul Murphy was rescued from the water (irishtimes.com)
  • causeThe steel cable holding the cage snapped after becoming overburdened and safety mechanisms failed (irishtimes.com)
  • investigationAn inquest into the deaths was held in April 2023 (irishtimes.com)
  • investigationA Health and Safety Authority report was critical of the safety precautions taken on the day (irishtimes.com)
  • chargeThe action was taken against seven defendants including Palfinger Ireland Ltd, Nationwide Crane Hire Ltd, and Limerick City and County Council (irishtimes.com)
  • courtThe family settled a High Court action for an undisclosed sum (irishtimes.com)
  • sentenceNationwide Crane Hire was fined €200,000 and Palfinger Ireland Ltd was fined €25,000 for Health and Safety at Work Act contraventions (irishtimes.com)
  • otherPaul Murphy settled his case for an undisclosed sum in October and the family of TJ Herlihy settled for €1.1 million in May (irishtimes.com)
  • otherThe three men were attached by harnesses to the cage, in part because Paul Murphy could not swim (irishtimes.com)
  • otherPaul Murphy unclipped his harness and surfaced while the other two men had to be cut free by rescuers (irishtimes.com)

The reporting

newest first
  1. 12 Dec2024
    In courtirishtimes.com, first report
    Family of stonemason killed while working on Limerick bridge settle High Court action

    Reports the settlement of the High Court action, details of the 2015 bridge accident, inquest findings, and prior criminal prosecutions of two companies for Health and Safety at Work Act contraventions.

    victim, Bryan Whelan, 29, male, irish (judged from name)Bryan Whelanvictim, TJ Herlihy, male, irish (judged from name)TJ Herlihyvictim, Paul Murphy, male, irish (judged from name)Paul Murphy