Firefighter receives €100,000 settlement

A Bray firefighter has received a €100,000 settlement from Wicklow County Council following a fatal fire in 2007.

Ronan O’Sullivan and the council agreed on the figure a number of months ago, as Mr O’Sullivan’s case was due before the High Court in early June.

Mr O’Sullivan’s legal action claimed that he suffered post-traumatic stress and alleged that Wicklow County Council failed in its duty of care.

The sum was awarded nine years after the deaths of firemen Mark O’Shaughnessy (25) and Brian Murray (46), who died in a blaze at a disused building at Adelaide Villas in Bray on September 26, 2007.

A memorial ceremony was held in memory of Brian and Mark at a monument at Fr Colohan Terrace last Saturday.

A number of other cases are due before the High Court in November.

Mr O’Sulllivan’s matter was the first of approximately 30 civil actions to be taken by people linked to the tragedy, including firefighters and family members of the deceased

Wicklow County Council said that it would not be appropriate to comment on the case ‘as there are a number of ongoing civil cases in relation to this matter.’

In May 2014, a 17-day inquest was held into the deaths of the two men. Coroner Dr Brian Farrell said that the men ‘ had paid the ultimate price for their courage and devotion to duty and their altruism in relation to the whole community.’

It was agreed by experts that a sudden acceleration of the fire occurred at 11.08 a.m. They disagreed on the cause of the fireball which caused the deaths.

Evidence attributed the fireball to flammable liquids dumped illegally in the factory and to air pockets that caused the roof to collapse.

The jury heard of a number of operational issues at Bray Fire Station during the inquest, including problems with an alerter system used to call for backup and the absence of training provided to firefighters in the use of CAFS (compressed air foam system) used to fight the fire.

In October 2013, Wicklow County Council was fined €355,000 after pleading guilty to health and safety violations.

At that time, counsel for Wicklow County Council Luán Ó Braonáin SC said the fact that there were health and safety failures did not mean that the failures resulted in the deaths of the men.

The jury found that the council failed to maintain ‘ the vital communications systems in Bray and Greystones fire stations.’ They also found that there was an absence of ‘specific instructions’ relating to Pre-Determined Attendances. They found that the council failed to provide ‘appropriate training for all fire fighting personnel’ in CAFS and they noted a shortage of qualified drivers available on the day of the deaths.

‘ The absence of an internal investigation by Wicklow County Council into the tragic events of the day were of serious concern,’ said the foreman.

The jury remarked that local authorities should take action on illegal dumping, and acknowledged improvements in Wicklow Fire Service. Bench warrants were issued for two Kilcoole residents last Thursday’s sitting of Bray District Court.

A warrant was issued for the arrest of a man accused of driving at 109km/h in a 100km/h zone. Mark McCormack, Nedville, Sea Road, was charged with committing the offence, on the N11 at Kilmurry South on January 7.

A warrant was issued for Rachel Robson (26), 38 Holywell Grove, Sea Road, after she failed to appear to answer a charge of having no insurance or NCT at Boghall Road in Bray on February 10.