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Co Tyrone farmer (30) killed in accident ‘was planning to marry'

A field beside the family home of James Irwin who died in a farming accident on Sunday. Picture by Justin Kernoghan
A field beside the family home of James Irwin who died in a farming accident on Sunday. Picture by Justin Kernoghan A field beside the family home of James Irwin who died in a farming accident on Sunday. Picture by Justin Kernoghan

A 30-YEAR-OLD farmer who died after becoming trapped in farm machinery had been planning to get married.

James Irwin died after the accident, believed to have involved a combine harvester, at his family farm on Rhone Road between Dungannon and Moy in Co Tyrone at around 2pm on Sunday.

The Health and Safety Executive is investigating, with a spokesman saying: "Our thoughts are with the man’s family at this most difficult time."

Ulster Farmers' Union president Barclay Bell also extended his sympathies.

"It is a sad reminder that farms are busy workplaces that can sometimes be dangerous," he said.

"Farm safety continues to be a important issue across the industry and I would urge all farming families to re-double their efforts to stay farm safe following this tragic accident."

Ulster Unionist MP Tom Elliott said he was stunned by the death.

"Whilst the full details are not yet known, I understand that the young man was in his thirties and was planning to get married sometime in the near future," he said.

"This tragedy illustrates that the agricultural industry carries a more significant risk than any other industry and behind these statistics is a story of a grieving family, a community in shock and the need to make farms safer places to work and live in."

Sinn Féin MLA Linda Dillon, chair of the assembly's agriculture committee, also said the death had shocked the area and wider farming community.

"Any death on a farm is one too many. I send my sympathies to the family and friends of this man at this difficult time."