Horror as dad is crushed to death at work

The wife of a man crushed to death in an accident at his workplace was today too devastated to speak about her heartbreaking loss.

Kieran McClean, understood to be a 49-year-old father-of-three, became trapped under machinery at premises in Kilkeel harbour yesterday evening.

Despite desperate attempts to save him, he died later at Daisy Hill Hospital in Newry.

His grief-stricken widow, who this morning spoke briefly to the Belfast Telegraph, was being comforted by friends and |relatives at the family home in Newcastle. One woman, who was with Mrs McClean at the house, said the whole family was in shock after what had happened.

There was no answer this morning at Engineering and Construction Products where the accident happened.

A message said: “We would like to inform everybody that our premises are now closed until further notice due to the sudden |bereavement of one of our colleagues.”

The firm later released a statement which said: “Following an accident yesterday our friend and colleague, Kieran McClean, tragically passed away last night. Our thoughts and prayers are with his wife, children and family circle.”

It is understood Mr McClean worked as a designer at the Kilkeel factory which manufactures steel and was on the shop floor of the building when the tragedy occurred.

Police and investigators from the Health and Safety Executive remained at the scene this morning.

Newry and Mourne councillor Henry Reilly said colleagues of Mr McClean have been devastated by the tragedy and expressed his condolences to his family.

“Obviously my thoughts are with the family of the man who died at this extremely sad time,” said the UKIP councillor.

“I know the company very well and I know the owner, Eamonn Hughes. He is a very good employer and they will all be devastated about what has happened, there’s no doubt about that. My heart goes out to everyone involved.

“I was down at the harbour yesterday and heard about what happened. Everyone was talking about it and was stunned that someone had been injured, but at that stage no-one realised how badly the man had been injured.”

Isaac Hanna, a UUP Newry and Mourne councillor, also passed his sympathies to Mr McClean’s family.

“My heartfelt sympathy goes out to his wife and family on their terrible loss,” he said.

Martin Connolly, an independent Newry and Mourne councillor, said: “Everyone is upset when a death occurs but it is even more tragic when it happens at work.”

A PSNI spokeswoman confirmed the Health and Safety Executive for Northern Ireland has been informed of the incident.

Source: The Belfast Telegraph