Thursday 5 November 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. 30865Vehicle (failing to secure load) · Co. Longford · 27 Feb 2020

Man fined for excavator bucket falling from low loader in Newtownforbes

Fergal McLoughlin of Kiltoghert, Carrick-on-Shannon, pleaded guilty at Longford District Court to failing to take adequate precautions in preventing a load from falling from a vehicle after an excavator bucket fell from a low loader in Newtownforbes on 27 February 2020. He was fined €250 with three months to pay.

  1. Reportednot reported
  2. Arrestednot reported
  3. Chargednot reported
  4. In courtnot reported
  5. Verdictnot reported
  6. Sentenced8 Jul
reportedhappened, not reportedlatest stagenot yet

Key facts

consolidated from all reports
9 statements extracted from the articles
  • whatA bucket belonging to a track machine fell off the side of a low loader travelling through Newtownforbes. (leitrimobserver.ie)
  • whereThe incident happened as the low loader was turning right at a bend in Newtownforbes. (leitrimobserver.ie)
  • causeChains designed to hold the heavy duty vehicle had been stolen only hours earlier. (leitrimobserver.ie)
  • causeChains used to fasten both machines had been stolen in Dundalk sometime earlier. (leitrimobserver.ie)
  • causeThe low loader was left overnight in Drogheda and the box of chains was stolen when the driver left in the morning. (leitrimobserver.ie)
  • investigationGardaí on patrol came across the low loader which had lost an excavator bucket from one of two track machines it was carrying. (leitrimobserver.ie)
  • chargeMcLoughlin pleaded guilty to failing to take adequate precautions in preventing a load from falling from a vehicle at Main Street, Newtownforbes, Co Longford on 27 February 2020. (leitrimobserver.ie)
  • sentenceJudge Hughes issued McLoughlin with a €250 fine, giving him three months to pay. (leitrimobserver.ie)
  • otherThe driver had been en route to Leitrim at the time of the incident. (leitrimobserver.ie)

The reporting

newest first
  1. 8 Jul2021
    Sentencedleitrimobserver.ie, first report
    Leitrim man appears as court hears excavator bucket fell from vehicle

    Reports the sentencing hearing at Longford District Court where McLoughlin pleaded guilty and was fined €250.

    convicted, Fergal McLoughlin, male, named, irish (judged from name)Fergal McLoughlin