Publication date:
Two businesses received fines at Belfast Crown Court on Friday 02 October 2026 after pleading guilty to health and safety offences following the death of John Traynor in January 2022.
I J Lynn & Sons Ltd pleaded guilty to failing to ensure the health, safety and welfare of employees contrary to Article 4 (1) and 31 (1) (a) of The Health and Safety at Work (NI) Order 1978.
Graham Construction Ltd pleaded guilty to failing to make a suitable assessment of risks to the health and safety of persons not in their employment contrary to regulation 3 (1) (b) of the Management of Health and Safety of Work Regulations (NI) 2000.
IJ Lynn & Son Ltd was fined £45,000.
Graham Construction Ltd were fined £100,000.
Mr Traynor, from Ballycastle, died at a construction site in Carrickfergus. He was employed by IJ Lynn & Sons Ltd, a groundwork subcontractor to Graham Construction on the site.
He was operating a forward-tipping dumper truck at the time of the incident. He died after the loaded dumper truck overturned after entering an aqueduct channel. The incident which led to Mr Traynor’s death happened after late changes were made to planned work. A risk assessment had been completed, but it failed to make the work instructions sufficiently clear, including how material was to be deposited from the truck, leading to uncertainty and confusion amongst workers.
PPS Assistant Director Roger Davison said: “This tragic incident that led to Mr Traynor losing his life highlights the need for employers to make the safety of employees a high priority.
“In this case, health and safety measures were not adequately planned, assessed, supervised, or implemented on the site. A suitable risk assessment would have identified dangers and identified the required control measures.
"Workplace health and safety rules are not optional. Employers have a responsibility to ensure they are carefully adhered to – they can make the difference between life and death, as this case shows.
“We worked with the Health and Safety Executive for Northern Ireland and the Police Service of Northern Ireland to bring this case before the court. Where the evidence allows, we will continue to bring cases like this against employers who fall short in their responsibilities to employees.
"My thoughts remain with Mr Traynor’s family and all those who were close to him.”
ENDS