Publication date:
Causeway Coast and Glens Borough Council was sentenced today (Friday 14 June) at Antrim Crown Court for a health and safety offence, following the death of employee John Winton, in Limavady on 6 November 2018.
The Council pleaded guilty to failing to ensure the health, safety and welfare of employees and was fined £75,000.
PPS Senior Public Prosecutor Michael McDaid said: “Mr Winton tragically lost his life when he was struck by a bin lorry whilst working for Causeway Coast and Glens Borough Council.
“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 the Council chief executive formally entering a guilty plea and accepting responsibility for the Council’s shortcomings in relation to refuse collection at the time of the incident.
“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 stark warning to employers to implement comprehensive health and safety measures to prevent individuals from being endangered and avoid any further tragic loss of life.
“Mr Winton was a much-loved father who is sorely missed by his family and all those who knew him. This case demonstrates the devastating consequences that arise when the correct protocols are not in place.”