Company Fined £175,000 Following Fatal Workplace Incident

McCauley Trailers Ltd has been fined £175,000 for health and safety breaches that led to the death of an employee in 2019.

The company, which had previously pleaded guilty to the offences, was sentenced at Antrim Court on Wednesday, 27 August. The fine is one of the highest ever issued in Northern Ireland for such breaches.

The conviction follows a joint investigation by the Police Service of Northern Ireland (PSNI) and the Health and Safety Executive of Northern Ireland (HSENI) after the death of 43-year-old Maciej Wieczorek. The detective inspector on the case said that the conviction sends a clear message to those who "flout the law" and serves as a "stark reminder" of the consequences of not adhering to legislation.

The police and HSENI hope that the sentencing brings some closure to the family of Mr Wieczorek. The investigation was directed by the Public Prosecution Service, which received a file from the police following the incident.

Temporary Bathing Advice Lifted At Benone Beach Temporary advice against bathing at Benone Beach has been removed, after monitoring indicated that blue-green algae was no longer a risk.

The advice had been issued on Friday, 22 August, after the presence of blue-green algae was identified during routine water quality monitoring by DAERA.

The bathing water operator, Causeway Coast and Glens Borough Council, has been informed, and the temporary signage advising against bathing has now been removed.

The public can check the NI Bathing Water Quality Dashboard for the latest updates on bathing water quality.

Brett Martin To Open A Factory In The USA

Mallusk-based manufacturing company Brett Martin is set to open a new factory in Wisconsin, USA. The move is a joint venture with Amerilux International and is being welcomed as a major milestone for one of Northern Ireland’s largest manufacturing firms.

According to DUP Economy Spokesperson Phillip Brett MLA, the expansion is a "powerful endorsement of the world-class talent, skills and innovation" in Northern Ireland. He added that the success shows that local businesses can compete and grow on a global stage.

With the majority of its 1,000 employees based in Northern Ireland, the company's growth will strengthen its international footprint while continuing to support jobs and investment at home.