THE DEATH toll from incidents on Irish farms has risen to 13 with the latest fatality in Co Laois.
Farm fatalities now make up more than half of all occupational fatalities recorded so far this year.
Health and Safety Authority inspectors and gardaí have started an investigation into the death of Kevin Molloy (21) who died on a farm at Cremorgan, Timahoe, Co Laois, on Tuesday evening. Mr Molloy had gone into a field where harvesting was under way and was struck by a tractor. He was pronounced dead in the Midland Regional Hospital, in Portlaoise.
Mr Molloy , a farmer, had been living in Kilminchy, Portlaoise, and was a well known sportsman in the county, having played Gaelic football with Stradbally GAA and soccer for the local Stradbally town club. Safety experts have expressed fears that this could be a bad year for farm fatalities because last year’s total of 11 has already been exceeded so early in the main harvesting season.
The 13 deaths on farms account for more than half of all occupational fatalities so far this year, which now stands at 23. Farm organisations have been campaigning for more care to be taken on farms.