Magherafelt quarry tragedy prompts safety warning from Mid Ulster councillors

Councillor Denise Johnston has urged the residents of the district to stay away from quarries following the tragedy on May 19.

Speaking at the monthly meeting of the local authority, the SDLP representative for Moyola DEA explained that as much as it could be tempting to use quarries as watersports facilities on hot summer days, they are particularly treacherous.

She commented: “Following the recent death in Hogg’s Quarry in Magherafelt, I thought important to mention this tonight.

“If I could firstly pass on my condolences to the family and friends of Ronan Hawthorne, a young man with three kids who tragically died and was buried today (Thursday, May 23).

“With the warm weather and the summer holidays approaching, there’s a concern that children, teenagers and young adults could be tempted to enter their local quarry.

“To prevent this, the Mineral Products Association NI, with the support of the Health and Safety Executive NI, are promoting the Mineral Products Association’s National Stay Safe Campaign, to raise awareness amongst younger children, teenagers, parents, about the dangers of entering quarries uninvited.

“I propose that we as a council do likewise. Young people think this is just a harmless bit of fun, they believe they are invincible and nothing will ever happen to them.

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“The campaign wants to pass on this important message to young people – stay safe, stay out – so that they heed this warning that quarries, working or disused, are not fun places, and that by trespassing they place both their own and their friends’ lives at risk.

“The potential hazards that people expose themselves to are: strong swimmers have drowned in quarries due to the unexpected impact of the extreme cold; currents that can drag you under the water; concealed underwater obstructions; the risk of serious falls; the risk of rock falls; surfaces in quarries that may look solid, such as the surface of a silt pond, can suddenly break and act like quick sand sucking you down; unstable terrains located in remote sites where mobile reception is poor and there’s no one on hand if help is needed.

“We could be vital partners in the campaign to spread the message to young people that quarries are not the places to play. It could help save lives.”

Mid Ulster Council Chairman, Councillor Dominic Molloy, concurred with Cllr Johnston, and suggested raising the matter through Mid Ulster Policing & Community Safety Partnership (PCSP) as well.