Friday 30 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. 17686Health and safety breach causing death · Co. Dublin · 19 Mar 2020

Thorntons Recycling fined €60,000 over fatal workplace incident in Tallaght

On 19 March 2020, Tomasz Orzel, a man whose age and nationality are not given, was struck by a truck while bins were being collected in Dún An Oir Estate, Old Bawn, Tallaght, Dublin, and was killed. The company named as the suspect is Padraig Thornton Waste Disposal Limited, trading as Thorntons Recycling. A representative pleaded guilty on the company's behalf at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to breaching Section 8(1) of the Safety, Health and Welfare at Work Act 2005 and to contravening Regulation 31C of the Safety, Health and Welfare (General Application) Regulations. The latest development, reported on 8 April 2024, is that the company was fined €60,000.

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

Key facts

consolidated from all reports
What happened
Tomasz Orzel was struck by a Thorntons Recycling truck while bins were being collected and was killed.
Where
The incident happened in Dún An Oir Estate, Old Bawn, Tallaght, Dublin.
When
The incident happened on 19 March 2020.
Cause
  • A proximity sensor switch on the vehicle was defective and had been interfered with.
  • Plastic cable ties and aluminium can pull rings were placed on the switches, and extra wires were installed to short out the system.
  • The footboards on the vehicle were in bad condition.
Investigation
  • The vehicle had passed an external inspection two months before the incident.
  • A victim impact statement from Tomasz Orzel's partner was handed in but not read aloud.
Charges
  • A representative pleaded guilty on behalf of the company.
  • The company admitted breaching Section 8(1) of the Safety, Health and Welfare at Work Act 2005 and contravening Regulation 31C of the Safety, Health and Welfare (General Application) Regulations.
In court
The case was heard at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court, and counsel said the guilty plea was an early plea.
Sentence
  • The judge said the sentence must punish the company and warn employers that health and safety is important.
  • The company was fined €60,000 for health and safety breaches after the death of an employee.
Other details
The company has two previous convictions and has since reviewed the incident and improved its monitoring of the vehicles.
18 statements extracted from the articles
  • whatThorntons Recycling was fined €60,000 for health and safety breaches after an employee's death. (thejournal.ie)
  • whatTomasz Orzel was struck by the truck while collecting bins and was killed. (thejournal.ie)
  • whereThe incident happened while bins were being collected in Dún An Oir Estate, Old Bawn, Tallaght. (thejournal.ie)
  • whenThe vehicle was defective and unsafe on 19 March 2020. (thejournal.ie)
  • causeA proximity sensor switch on the vehicle was defective and had been interfered with. (thejournal.ie)
  • causePlastic cable ties and aluminium can pull rings were placed on the switches and extra wires were installed to short out the system. (thejournal.ie)
  • causeThe footboards on the vehicle were in bad condition. (thejournal.ie)
  • investigationThe vehicle had passed an external inspection two months before the incident. (thejournal.ie)
  • investigationA victim impact statement from Tomasz's partner was handed in but not read aloud. (thejournal.ie)
  • chargeA representative pleaded guilty on behalf of the company. (thejournal.ie)
  • chargeThe company admitted breaching Section 8(1) of the Safety, Health and Welfare at Work Act 2005. (thejournal.ie)
  • chargeThe company also pleaded guilty to contravening Regulation 31C of the Safety, Health and Welfare (General Application) Regulations. (thejournal.ie)
  • courtDublin Circuit Criminal Court heard the case. (thejournal.ie)
  • courtCounsel said the guilty plea was an early plea. (thejournal.ie)
  • sentenceThe judge said the sentence must punish the company and warn employers that health and safety is important. (thejournal.ie)
  • sentenceThe company was fined €60,000. (thejournal.ie)
  • otherThe company has two previous convictions. (thejournal.ie)
  • otherThe company has reviewed the incident and improved its monitoring of the vehicles. (thejournal.ie)

The reporting

newest first
  1. 8 Apr2024
    Sentencedthejournal.ie, first report
    Thorntons Recycling fined €60k for health and safety breaches after death of employee

    Reports the guilty plea and €60,000 fine, the defects found on the vehicle and the court's comments on sentencing. No existing case matched.

    victim, Tomasz Orzel, maleTomasz Orzelconvicted, Padraig Thornton Waste Disposal Limited, trading as Thorntons Recycling, named, irish (judged from name)Padraig Thornton Waste Disposal Limited, trading as Thorntons Recycling