Company fined £100,000 for corporate manslaughter

J Murray & Son Ltd on 15th October was  fined £100,000, plus £10,450 costs, at Belfast's Laganside Crown Court for health and safety failings that led to the death of 47 year-old employee Norman Porter.

Today's conviction follows a joint Police Service of Northern Ireland (PSNI) and Health and Safety Executive Northern Ireland (HSENI) investigation into the fatal incident, which took place on an animal feed mixing plant owned by J Murray & Son Ltd at Ballygowan, Co. Down on 28 February 2012.

Mr Porter, who had only been working at the company for eight weeks, died after he became entangled in moving parts of a meal blending machine. The investigation revealed that the company had removed safety panels from the top of the mixer to allow raw ingredients to be added more easily.  This had the undesired effect of exposing the dangerous moving parts of the machine, which the company failed to identify and correct. The investigation also revealed that the blender was operated without the safety guards for approximately three years.

Following the hearing, Kevin Campbell, an Inspector with HSENI’s Major Investigation Team said: “This case highlights the importance of proper management of health and safety in the workplace.  Management need to ensure that all aspects of their work are adequately addressed, with appropriate measures put in place where necessary.  The removal of safety guards from the machine and the continued use of the machine ultimately led to the death of Norman Porter.  The company allowed the use of the unsafe machine. 

“I strongly urge that all levels of management actively ensure that health and safety within their workplace is taken seriously to prevent another worker from needlessly losing his or her life.”

HSENI Press Release

A spokesperson for the PSNI said, “This was a joint investigation between the Police Service of Northern Ireland and the Health and Safety Executive (NI). This is the second time in Northern Ireland that a company has been convicted under new Corporate Manslaughter legislation.

"Norman Porter lost his life as a result of this tragic incident and today's sentencing sends a clear message to those who flout the law. This conviction should be a stark reminder to all that legislation is there for a reason and of the subsequent consequences if it is not adhered to.

"PSNI will continue to work with partner agencies to tackle and address all crime."

The company is the second in Northern Ireland to be convicted of Corporate Manslaughter.