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Midlands Transport Firm And Director To Stand Trial Over Fatal Workplace Accident

Friday, 9 January 2026 13:41

Trial gets underway on Tuesday.

A Midlands transport company and its director will stand trial over health and safety law breaches which led to the death of a father of four following a workplace accident in 2021.

It comes after a Health and Safety Authority investigation led to the Director of Public Prosecutions to stand trial on indictment.

Ciaran Rohan, from Clonderrig, Ballinahown, Athlone, in Westmeath and Rohan Transport, with a registered address at Esker, Ballinahown, Athlone, in Westmeath have appeared at Athlone District Court in connection to the death of John Joseph Hannify on October 8th, 2021.

Mr Rohan and his company is accused of failing to ensure the replacing of an axle on a trailer was undertaken without risk, that repair works were carried out safely and that the trailer was inadequately secured resulting in Mr Hannify's death.

Both parties are also charged with failing to ensure individuals other than its employees exposed to non-domestic places of work which were safe and without risk.

Offaly State Solicitor Sandra Mahon has served books of evidence on Rohan Transport and Mr Rohan, and says the DPP wants to case to progress to Tullamore Circuit Court next week.

Judge Bernadette Owens gave alibi warnings to both defendants, saying they were obliged to provide 14 days notification when it came to any alibi evidence they wish to use during the trial.

The trial is due to begin in Tullamore on Tuesday.

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