Tributes paid to council worker killed by tree

A NEIGHBOUR of the council worker who was killed while clearing debris during Storm Eunice on Friday has described his tragic final moments.

Wexford County Council employee Billy Kinsella was clearing a tree and debris off the road in Ballythomas near the border with County Wicklow when he was struck by a falling tree.

Local councillor Anthony Donohoe said the father-of-one had just gone back to work after taking a break with colleagues when the accident happened.

He told the Irish Mail on Sunday: ‘They were just after getting their tea and they got back out and started working again and another tree came across and hit Billy, unfortunately he lost his life.’ The 59-year-old was married with a 19-year-old son and had worked for Wexford Council since 2017.

Mr Donohoe said the community has been left ‘reeling’ by the tragedy.

He said: ‘Billy was a very hardworking man and if he could do anything for you he’d do it. A very good family man as well. His son Conor; Billy adored him and went to all his GAA games. I was up with Mr Kinsella’s wife Rita for a couple of hours. She’s just very cut up.’

Mr Donohoe explained that the tragedy was the second to hit the community in the same morning after a 49-year-old local woman died suddenly in her sleep.

Mr Kinsella’s body was removed to University Hospital Waterford for postmortem examination. The Health and Safety Authority confirmed it has launched an investigation into the accident, as is mandatory for workplace fatalities.

High winds uprooted many trees across southern parts of the country on Friday, with more than 100 incidents reported in County Cork. Status yellow wind warnings are in place today for all counties along the west coast.