Inquiries into death of worker at Tara Mines

The Health and Safety Authority and the Garda have begun separate inquiries into the death of a worker at Tara Mines near Navan, Co Meath on Tuesday.

Noel O'Neill (57), Athboy, Co Meath, died in an underground accident at the zinc mining plant shortly before 2pm. The full circumstances surrounding his death are not yet known. It is understood he fell more than 30 metres after the ground on which he was working collapsed.

His body was removed to Our Lady's Hospital, Navan, where a postmortem examination was carried out yesterday.

Operations at the mine were suspended immediately following the accident and gardaí were called to the scene.

In a statement released yesterday the company, Boliden Tara Mines Limited, said it was participating in the investigation.

Managing director Bert-Ove Johansson expressed his sympathy to Mr O'Neill's wife and family on behalf of the company and employees. Mr O'Neill had worked at the mine for 27 years.