Pair guilty of safety failings in farm death

TWO men who failed to ensure a half-tonne door was properly fitted have been given community service after it crushed a North Yorkshire farmer to death.
By The Newsroom
Published 17th Apr 2013, 09:57 BST

Robert Ireland was fatally injured when the roller shutter door on a grain store at his Manor Wold Farm in East Heslerton fell on top of him from a height of nearly 15ft in October 2010.

The 71-year-old’s brother, John, discovered him lying under the electrically-powered door after hearing “an almighty crash”.

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An ambulance was called and a lever had to be used to remove Mr Ireland from under the door.

He was confirmed dead after being taken to Scarborough Hospital.

Bradford Crown Court heard the roller shutter door had been fitted on to the shed four months earlier by Paul Halliwell’s company Easydoor.

Judge Shaun Spencer QC was told it was not installed properly by employee David Whittaker, who did the job with colleague Steven Marroitt.

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Halliwell, 44, of Marsland Terrace, Stockport, admitted failing to ensure the health and safety of persons not employed by him.

Whittaker, 40, of Lodge Lane, Hyde, pleaded guilty to failing to take reasonable care of Mr Ireland’s health and safety.

Judge Spencer said the case was too serious for fines to be imposed and he made both men the subject of 12-month community orders which include 200 hours of unpaid work.