Father-of-two dies in tragic work accident

Father-of-two dies in tragic work accident

22 March 2017

A BALLYHORNAN man has died following an industrial accident at the Belfast harbour estate.

It is understood Mr Neil Rooney, who was a father of two teenage children, became trapped under machinery in the Stormont Wharf area following an incident early yesterday morning.

Emergency services were alerted at 8.20am and rushed to help where they were joined by harbour police who cordoned off the area where Mr Rooney had been working.

The 33 year-old man died at the scene and the circumstances of his death are being probed by the Health and Safety Executive which sent officers to the harbour to investigate.

A spokeswoman for the organisation confirmed yesterday afternoon that it was aware of an incident at business premises in the Duncrue area of Belfast and is currently making enquiries into what happened.

The Ambulance Service confirmed while it responded to reports of a person being trapped at the harbour estate, despatching a rapid response vehicle, a doctor, A&E crew and a hazardous area response officer, no one was taken from the scene.

Local politicians including South Down MP Margaret Ritchie and Councillors Dermot Curran and Gareth Sharvin, said their thoughts and prayers and those of many people across the district will be with Mr Rooney’s family at this very sad time.

“I would like to extend my deepest sympathy to family and friends of Mr Rooney who died in this tragic accident. Death is always tragic but is even more so when it is unexpected or the result of an accident,” Miss Ritchie said.

“My thoughts and prayers are with the Rooney family whose grief will be immeasurable. I know that the local population in Ballyhornan and Ardglass will be very supportive of Neil’s family and will want to help in whatever practical and emotional way they can.”

Councillor Curran said he was “shocked” to learn of Mr Rooney’s sudden death and his thoughts are with his relatives at this particularly sad time.

“This is a tragedy for the Rooney family and many people will have them in their prayers at this very sad time. What happened is dreadful and one can only imagine what his family is going through. My heart goes out to them all,” he said. “To lose a loved one in such circumstances must be devastating and heart-breaking.”

Councillor Curran, who knows the Rooney family, said the father of two who died tragically yesterday morning lived close to the entrance to the Bishopscourt race circuit.

He added: “Many people will be thinking of the Rooney family at this time and all our thoughts are with his immediate family. They have suffered such a terrible tragedy which is so hard to put into words.”

Councillor Sharvin said many people will be thinking about the Rooney family at this “extremely difficult time” and has no doubt the Ballyhornan community will rally around them to provide strength and support.