Brick Works Fatality - Inquest

January 16, 1905

On Saturday, Dr. Louis A. Byrne held an inquest in the Meath Hospital on the remains of Joseph Delaney, aged 18, of 14 Rafter’s Lane, Crumlin Road, who was fatally injured at Mount Argus Brick and Tile Works on Thursday, owing to the collapse of a bank of earth.

Mr. Wm. J. Gleeson, solicitor, appeared for the father of the deceased. Mr. Gerald Byrne, solicitor, appeared for the Dublin Brick and Tile Company, the proprietors of the works.

James Delaney, the father of the deceased, deposed that the latter had been giving him 16s a week for some time past. He himself was at present unable to work owing to the state of his health.

Dr. Bracken, House Surgeon, deposed that Delaney was dead when he was brought to the hospital. He found that death had been caused by a fracture of the base of the skull. The right leg and the bones of the right side of the face were also fractured.

Mr. Patrick Corrigan, who was also employed at the works, deposed that the collapse took place without any warning. The fallen earth completely covered the deceased except for his head and neck, and when taken out he was unconscious. Witness had a narrow escape, as he was only a few yards distant when the accident occurred.

To Mr. Gleeson—The bank was nine feet high, and the props were not displaced by the accident.

To Mr. Byrne, solicitor—At the time the accident occurred, the deceased was a hundred yards from the mashing mill, where he should have been working. Every precaution was taken.

Arthur Cooper, assistant manager of the works, deposed that at the time the accident occurred, the men were working on a clay pit, and he considered everything was being carried out in a workmanlike and proper manner, as usual. At the time the bank collapsed, it was partly undermined, but they left some clay standing to act as props. When it was necessary to allow the bank to fall, the custom was that these props should be removed and the clay allowed to fall. On this occasion, the props had not been removed, and he could in no way account for the collapse.

To a Juror—The deceased at the time was not working under my supervision. The deceased was not supposed to go there until the bank came down, and it was not down when the deceased went there.

To the Coroner—At the time, the deceased had no business there.

To a Juror—The men are on piece work, and there is no one in particular to oversee them.

To Mr. Gleeson—The deceased was not employed at the bank. The deceased used to go down to the bank to work; it was part of his business, but he was not supposed to be near the bank.

To Mr. Byrne, solicitor—The wash place is about forty or fifty yards away. He had about six or seven years’ experience at the falling of banks, and every precaution was taken. He could in no way account for the collapse.

To Mr. Gleeson—If the bank of clay was not sufficiently propped, it might cause the bank to fall, or the rain might account for it.

The jury found that the deceased died from a fracture of the base of the skull caused by the accidental slipping of the bank, and they added, “We consider the Brick Company were negligent in not having the bank properly secured.”