Elevator installation firm charged with safety breach in Hynes Building

A lift installation company is to stand trial for an alleged breach of health and safety regulations in relation to a lift it installed at Hynes’ Building almost twenty years ago.

The Director of Public Prosecutions has directed that Ennis Lifts Ltd., Elevation Business Park, Clon Road, Ennis, Co. Clare, faces prosecution under the Safety, Health and Welfare at Work Act 1989.

The company faces a single charge that while being an employer on June 25, 1998, at Hynes’ Buildings, St. Augustine Street, Galway, it failed to ensure, so far as was reasonably practicable, that persons not in its employment who may be affected, were not exposed to risks to their safety or health, in that it installed and put into service a passenger lift which had a horizontal distance between the inner surface of the lift well wall and the sill of the lift car door in excess of 0.15m, without taking measures to address the gap.

State Solicitor, William Kennedy informed Judge Mary Fahy at the Applications Court in Galway that the DPP had directed the matter go forward for trial to the Circuit Criminal Court.

Judge Fahy adjourned the matter until July 4 next for service of a Book of Evidence on the company.