Irish Packaging Recycling Unlimited Company fined €650,000 following fatal incident at Recycling Plant in Finglas  

Friday 31st October 2025 

Yesterday, Thursday 30th October, at Dublin Circuit Court, Judge Martin Nolan imposed a fine of €650,000 on Irish Packaging Recycling Unlimited Company for one breach of the Safety, Health and Welfare at Work Act 2005 following a work-related fatal incident which occurred at their Recycling Plant on the 18th August 2021.  

The company pleaded guilty to two charges under Safety, Health and Welfare legislation.  

1. Section 8 (1) of the Safety, Health and Welfare at Work Act 2005 as it relates to Section 8(2)(g) of the said Act, as it relates to Section77(9)(a) of the Safety, Health and Welfare at Work Act 2005. That is, as an employer, Irish Packaging Recycling Unlimited Company did fail to manage and conduct work activities in such a way as to ensure the safety, health and welfare at work of an employee.
2. Regulation 53(1)(a) of the Safety, Health and Welfare at Work (General Application) Regulations 2007, as it relates to Section 77(2)(c) of the Safety, Health and Welfare at Work Act 2005 in relation to the company’s failure to ensure the preparationof a report following the examination of equipment by a competent person.

Judge Nolan imposed a fine of €650,000 on Irish Packaging Recycling Unlimited on a breach of Section 8 (1) of the Safety, Health and Welfare at Work Act 2005 as it relates to Section 8(2)(g) of the said Act, as it relates to Section 77 (9) (a) of the Act. The second charge, related to Regulation 53(1)(a) of the Safety, Health & Welfare at Work (General Application) Regulations 2007, was taken into consideration.  

On the 18th August 2021 the deceased, who was insufficiently trained, was operating a forklift truck at the recycling plant when it overturned. There was no supervision in place at the time of the incident and the deceased was not wearing the seatbelt provided on the forklift truck. 

Mark Cullen, HSA Chief Executive Officer said, 

“This tragic incident highlights the critical importance of appropriate training, supervision, and the use of safety equipment when operating machinery. Employers have a legal and moral duty to ensure that work activities are planned, organised, and carried out in a safe manner. The failure to provide adequate training and supervision in this case had devastating consequences. I recommend all employers to review their safety procedures and ensure that they are compliant with health and safety legislation to prevent devastating incidents such as this one.”