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The heartbroken mum of a boy who fell down a manhole and died is to sue a construction firm over her son’s tragic building site death. Shea Ryan, 10, died after he slipped on a ladder and fell inside the hole close to a play park near his home in Glasgow’s Drumchapel on July 16, 2020.
The schoolboy was able to enter the site, which was being worked on by contractors RJ McLeod, through an insecure fence just 60 metres away from the local play park.
In April, RJ McLeod admitted that he failed to ensure that other non-working people were not at risk of being tried at Glasgow Sheriff’s Court. The structural company was fined £860,000, a deduction of around £1. 5 million from mitigating points added up at the time of the company’s guilty plea.
Sheriff Matthew Jackson KC said, “Nothing this court can do can bring back Shea, who was a glorious son and friend, as well as a loss to his family, his school, and all of us. What this court can do is decide on an appropriate solution. “prayer.
“Everyone can learn from this dreadful mistake. This is a fine which will remind the company’s shareholders and directors of the gravity of this offence. This will not lessen in any way or replace the terrible loss of Shea’s life.”
Shea’s mother, Joanne Ferguson, also said in a statement: “My son is not here and this destroys me every day. This totally avoidable twist of fate ruined my life and the lives of my children. Sometimes I don’t even feel human. “
“Wee Shea is missed every moment of every day and his family and friends will love and miss him. “
After Shea’s death, R. J. McLeod increased his fencing measures and a newspaper was formed. Manhole covers were also checked and motion sensors and solar-powered security cameras were installed at the sites.
Paul Marshall, an advocate, said at the previous hearing: “I express my deepest condolences for the tragic loss of Shea’s family. The company takes protection very seriously and it is a matter of fear and regret that you lost your life as a result of this breach, for which the company takes responsibility.
“The company is responsible for the defamed violations because it failed to conduct a proper assessment of the risks to people at the site of the structure. “
At a later date, an investigation will take place into a fatal twist of fate over Shea’s death.
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