Firm fined for Wembley man death

A building firm has been fined £150,000 after a man was killed in an accident during the building of Wembley Stadium.

Carpenter Patrick O'Sullivan, died when a platform fell more than 300ft (91m) and landed on him in January 2004.

A rope attached to a skip carrying concrete snagged on the platform, the Old Bailey heard.

PC Harrington Contractors admitted breaching health and safety law and told to pay £25,203 costs, after the death of Mr Carpenter, 54, from Ealing.

The skip, containing concrete to pour into one of the stadium's towers, caused the 303kg (48st) platform to become dislodged and fall to where Mr O'Sullivan was working with colleagues.

Wife's 'nightmare'

He suffered multiple injuries and died at the scene. His colleague Martin Carroll was injured.

Judge Martyn Zeidman said: "It was just a matter of good fortune that there were not more people killed."

Mr O'Sullivan's wife Mary, 58, said in a statement the death of her husband, originally from Cork in the Irish Republic, had been a "nightmare".

"She points out that her husband was denied an old age and a chance to enjoy his retirement after working so hard all his life," the judge said.

"One can never put a value on the life of Mr Patrick O'Sullivan. He is priceless."

The judge said the lessons of what happened "must never be forgotten".

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