A CO Armagh electrical firm has been fined £50,000 for health and safety offences following the tragic death of an employee.
Jonathan Peden (33), who was from Donaghcloney, Co Down, died at Little Electrical Engineers in Lurgan.
The newly-wed had just been married four weeks at the time of the accident on August 11 2016.
His employer, Alan Little Ltd admitted two charges of failing to ensure the health and safety of both employees and non employees during the incident.
Craigavon Crown Court Judge Patrick Lynch QC outlined how Mr Pedan was struck and killed by an industrial robot that was delivered to the Lurgan premises on an articulated lorry.
He indicated that CCTV coverage showed the lorry arriving and the circumstances of the fatal accident.
Judge Lynch described that while the robot was being moved from the trailer, Mr Peden passed at that moment and was struck, suffering a “catastrophic head injury” while the lorry driver suffered minor injuries.
The judge indicated he had received three victim impact statements, all of which spoke of the loss and devastation suffered by those closest to Mr Peden.
Mr Peden’s wife Roisin said it was shock receiving the news which “came out of the blue” and there was real sense of loss.
His mother, Sandra, said he was a “loving son” and her life had been “turned upside down” by his death.
Referring to the company he said it was a family-run business set up in the 1960s and there “had never been a blemish or criticism” of the company.
He added that he had received a number of letters about the managing director Ian Little which reflected that he was a hard working man who took his responsibilities seriously.
For the first charge Judge Lynch imposed a fine of £45,000 with a further £5,000 for the second offence.
In a statement Health and Safety Executive Inspector Kyle Carrick said: “Our thoughts are with the Peden family today. Jonathan’s tragic death could have been avoided if his employer had properly considered the risks associated with this unloading activity.
Speaking after the case, the firm's managing director Ian Little paid tribute to Mr Peden who he described as a "valued member of our team."
"Jonathan's death continues to be felt by me, my family and all his colleagues. He was a kind and gentle man, who was a popular and valued member of our team. He is sorely missed by us all. I wish to express our deepest regrets over what happened and extend heartfelt sympathy and condolences to his devoted family, his widow Roisin, his mother Sandra and brothers Andrew and Adam," he said.
"Jonathan, and before that his late father Geoffrey, who I trained with, both worked with me at the firm which my father started, so our two families go back a long way and we keenly feel their terrible loss and understand their ordeal in attending this case."
The company also said it accepted the health and safety failings identified by the HSE in the wake of the death, adding that it had "undertaken extensive and thorough reviews of all health and safety protocols".
