A Cork coroner´s inquest into the death of Frank McGrath – who died in a fatal accident on a cherry picker – has been adjourned pending a report by the Health & Safety Authority (HSA).
Frank McGrath (58) – a member of the governing body at University College Cork (UCC) – died on March 5th last year in a fatal accident on a cherry picker. No details of the accident have yet been released, other than Frank died of extensive injuries die to a “blunt force trauma”.
Frank had been employed by UCC in their maintenance and engineering section for twenty-seven years and, on the night of the accident, had been attending to the lighting systems on the college campus. Frank died at the scene despite frantic efforts to save him by staff and paramedics.
An investigation into the fatal accident on a cherry picker was launched by the HSA under the Safety and Welfare at Work Act, lead by HSA Inspector Michael O´Flynn. Mr O´Flynn told the coroner – Dr Myra Cullinane – that the investigation into Frank´s death was “complex” and was taking some time to complete.
Dr Cullinane adjourned the hearing into Frank´s fatal accident on a cherry picker until 3rd April.
A spokesperson on behalf of UCC said “Frank McGrath joined UCC in 1986 and was immensely popular among all staff. He was elected on two occasions to membership of the governing body, where he shared his wisdom, pragmatism and above all his loyalty to and pride in UCC. UCC is deeply saddened by the accident and (again) wishes to extend its sincere sympathy to his family and colleagues.”