An employee of Sean Kelly Commercial Ltd in Trillick suffered serious injuries on October 23, 2023, when a lorry bed dropped in the company yard on Corryglass Road.

A manager instructed the 12-year worker to check a rear tyre after hearing a hissing noise on the Scania four-axle beavertail vehicle. The airbags released, causing the bed to fall and trap the man.

Paramedics called an air ambulance, which took him to Royal Victoria Hospital in Belfast. Doctors induced a coma for three days and kept him in intensive care for five more days.

Dungannon Crown Court fined the company £14,000 after it admitted failing to protect employee health and safety. The firm notified the Health and Safety Executive for Northern Ireland and police, assisted investigators, but passed on a voluntary interview.

The worker quit the firm and withheld a victim impact statement. Defence lawyer Jonathan Browne stated managers felt remorse, affirmed procedure compliance, and pointed out the unloaded lorry sat on even terrain with the employee aware of steps.

Judge Brian Sherrard acknowledged the guilty plea against the grave harm, called survival lucky, reviewed the clean record and safety compliance, then issued the penalty without compensation.