An inquest was held yesterday on a building worker who died following an accident at the Zoe Developments site in Ringsend, Dublin.
The man, a roofer, fell about 30 feet on to a concrete landing when he stepped on plastic sheeting covering a skylight opening, Dublin City Coroners' Court heard yesterday.
Mr James Masterson (24), of Tullaghan, Ballina, Co Mayo, was dead on admission to the Meath Hospital following the accident on the site at Charlotte Quay, Ringsend, on November 3rd last.
Mr Masterson was acting foreman of the roofing crew employed as sub-contractors and was working alone on the nearly flat roof when the accident happened at about 4 p.m. He was rushed to the hospital but was dead on arrival. A post-mortem examination showed he died of severe head injuries.
No one saw Mr Masterson fall and he was found on the third-floor landing of the five-storey building by two other workmen.
Sgt Pauline Gallagher, of Irishtown Garda Station, said the plastic sheeting covering the skylight opening was held in place by concrete blocks. There was no protective barrier around the opening.
Mr Masterson had been seen working near the skylight shortly before he fell. The plastic sheeting and some of the concrete blocks had also fallen into the stairwell. They were found near Mr Masterson's body.
Mr Jim Holmes, a Health and Safety Authority inspector, said an investigation of the accident was ongoing and a report would be submitted later.
The jury of four men and two women returned a verdict of accidental death.
The coroner, Dr Brian Farrell, expressed sympathy with Mr Masterson's mother and sister and his fiancee, who were present in the court.
A solicitor representing Zoe Developments also sympathised with the members of Mr Masterson's family.