Publication date:
Chris Auld of Chris Auld Tree Services was sentenced today (Thursday 3 April 2025) at Laganside Crown Court for a health and safety offence, following the death of his employee Rodney Shirley, near Hillsborough, Co Down, on 30 September 2021.
Auld pleaded guilty to failing to ensure the health, safety and welfare of employees and was fined £27,500.
PPS Senior Public Prosecutor Graham Cardwell said: “This tragic case resulted in 36-year-old Rodney Shirley losing his life whilst at work. Mr Shirley was working alongside other colleagues to trim hedgerows at a residential property. He was working at height in a raised mobile working platform when he was fatally electrocuted on overhead powerlines.
“Prosecutors in the PPS’s Fraud & Departmental Section worked closely with the Health and Safety Executive for Northern Ireland to build a robust prosecution case. This resulted in Chris Auld entering a guilty plea and accepting responsibility for his company’s failure not to complete a risk assessment for the work being undertaken and also failing to request a power outage on the overhead power lines.
“The PPS is committed to working with our enforcement partners to prosecute alleged health and safety offences, where the Test for Prosecution is met. The outcome of this case must serve as a reminder to employers to conduct the necessary checks and complete risk assessments to prevent anyone from being in danger.
“Mr Shirley was a much-loved husband, father and son who is sorely missed and I hope the conclusion of this case will help his loved ones to move forward with their lives, as they continue to try to cope with his death.”
Notes to editors
1. All decisions by the PPS are taken strictly in accordance with the Test for Prosecution which involves two stages. The Test for Prosecution is met if, in relation to an identifiable suspect, the available evidence is sufficient to provide a reasonable prospect of a conviction (the Evidential Test) and if prosecution is in the public interest (the Public Interest Test). The Evidential Test must be passed first before the Public Interest Test is considered. Further information can be found in the PPS Code for Prosecutors.
2. Media queries for the PPS should be referred to the Communications Unit by emailing ppspressoffice@ppsni.gov.uk inside office hours. The out of hours press officer can be contacted on 07920 271804, 07920 418844 or 07341 800254.