A young married man who had set up his own business drowned in an effluent tank as he worked alone on a Sunday afternoon, the High Court in Cork heard yesterday.
Mr John Hickey, of Berrings, Co Cork, was at the Dawn Dairies plant in Ballinhina, Dublin Pike, Cork, on May 5th, 1992, when the accident happened.
"He was alone, doing a job to the gearbox of a pump," Dr John O'Mahoney SC told the court.
Mr Hickey, 29 at the time of his death, was a fitter by training but had set up his own business as an independent contractor.
His widow, Mrs Ann Hickey, took an action for damages against Kerry Co-op Dairies Ltd, trading as Dawn Dairies, on behalf of herself and the couple's daughter, Audrey, now aged nine.
Mr Justice Quirke approved the settlement of £80,000, plus costs, of which £25,000 is to be lodged in court for Audrey.