A family who owned a farm where a Strabane man died after a wall fell on him, made valiant attempts to free him using a tractor, an inquest has heard this month. Limavady Coroner's Court was told that Cornelius Gerard Gormley died from chest injuries and crush asphyxia on 27 July 2006. The 48-year old man sustained the injuries while he was working alone at the farm on Seacoast Road in Bellarena, County Derry.
Three members of the Allison family who own the farm confirmed that the 3.2 metre high wall had been in place in the farmyard for at least 50 years and they had no reason to believe it was unstable. They also described how they attempted to rescue Mr Gormley from under the fallen concrete, finally pulling him free just before the emergency services arrived.
Health and safety inspector Mr TJ McCullagh said the fact the wall had been built without foundations would have caused it to topple when the old concrete was stripped away. He added that the lack of eye-witnesses meant the exact circumstances could only be surmised, however it was obvious Mr Gormley had been digging a trench close to the wall when it collapsed, which may have caused it to become unstable.
