Dungannon Crown Court fined Sean Kelly Commercial Ltd £14,000 for failing to ensure employee health and safety. The Trillick company on Corryglass Road pleaded guilty to breaching duties under the Health and Safety at Work (Northern Ireland) Order 1978.

The incident occurred on October 23, 2023, in the company yard. A manager heard a hissing sound from a rear tyre on a Scania four-axle beavertail lorry and directed a 12-year employee to inspect the wheel. An airbag failure caused the bed to drop and trap the worker between the bed and rear wheel.

The employee received serious injuries. An air ambulance took him to Royal Victoria Hospital in Belfast, where he spent three days in a coma and five days in intensive care.

The company self-reported to the Health and Safety Executive for Northern Ireland and police. It cooperated with investigations but declined a voluntary interview. An HSENI inspector issued a prohibition notice barring work under vehicles without proper body support.

Prosecutors from the Public Prosecution Service Fraud and Departmental Section collaborated with HSENI on the case. The injured employee left the company and did not provide a victim impact statement.

Defence counsel Jonathan Browne stated managers regretted the incident and affirmed current commitment to procedures. He noted the lorry was unloaded on level ground and the employee knew required steps. Judge Brian Sherrard credited the guilty plea, considered injury severity, company safety record, and lack of prior convictions before imposing the fine without compensation.