Clifford Bros. Ardfert Potatoes Ltd of Tralee Road, Ardfert, was charged in connection with a potentially life-changing farming accident involving a teenager during the harvest.
“This was a company sending out young fellows on massive machines,” said Judge David Waters upon hearing the evidence.
The employee, age 17 at the time, got his foot caught in a Grimme GT 170 potato harvester while working at Snipefield, Kilmoyley on July 27, 2024.
The company pleaded guilty to three charges related to worker safety and training.
David Barry, a now-retired safety inspector, was called to the stand by State solicitor Diane Reidy. He testified that an employee, who was 17 at the time, was working alongside two others.
“They were harvesting the potatoes and it went without incident initially,” Mr Barry began. When a “significant blockage” arose, the workers turned off the tractor to remove blocked stalks.
Protective safety covers on the machinery were not in place at the time, as appeared to be normal company practice, the inspector noted. “If those had been put down, they would have been quite safe,” said Mr Barry.
When one of the workers restarted the tractor, the teen’s leg was pulled into the rollers but caught on a tyre. This may have saved his leg from being pulled further into the machine, the court heard.
The boys contacted emergency services.
The victim sustained a fracture to his left fibula, nerve damage and “a flicker of movement” in his big toe, Ms Reidy told the court. “Yes, his nerves were crushed,” she said.
The tractor was running at about 30 per cent capacity, “because they were harvesting potatoes and they’re easily bruised,” said the inspector.
Had it been at 70 per cent, the accident would have had tragic consequences, he told the court.
No one was properly trained in clearing blockages, he added.
The company was co-operative and had not come to attention before or since, Ms Reidy told the court.
The victim did not want to give a statement or appear in court.
“Young fellows sent out with a massive piece of machinery, without any supervision or training,” said Judge Waters. “He was lucky not to lose his leg.”
“Or his life,” added the inspector.
Solicitor for the defence, Brendan Ahern, explained that Mr Clifford had planned to be there and “normally he would be driving himself” but had a medical operation that day. He noted that it was “a preventable accident” and practices had subsequently improved.
The company had a good reputation and eight full-time employees, as well as seasonal summer workers, said the solicitor.
The victim was “back playing football and hurling”, he added. “It’s a terrible situation and nobody felt worse than Mr Clifford himself,” concluded Mr Ahern.
Judge Waters observed that in different circumstances, the accident “almost certainly” would have resulted in a jail sentence.
It was “remarkable luck” the boy’s foot got caught by the tyre, said the judge.
He fined the company €500 for each of the three summons and court costs of €1,000. Funded by the Courts Reporting Scheme