A JURY recorded a verdict of accidental death in the case of a Polish farm worked who died after being attacked by a bull in Adare, County Limerick.
The jury heard details of the tragic incident at an inquest in the County Limerick Coroner’s Court into the death of Tomasz Kowalski, who died in the incident on April 1, 2021.
The Coroner’s Court heard evidence from witnesses and experts about how the horrific events unfolded.
Mr Kowalski, who was in his 30s, had worked on Denis Murphy’s farm for more than six years.
On the date of the accident, he began work at 6am, milking the cows with Mr Murphy.
Afterwards, Mr Murphy wanted his Fresian bull turned loose with the cows in the paddock but the bull made its way into the wrong paddock, Coroner John McNamara heard.
Mr Kowalski was asked to take the farmer’s jeep and use it to herd the bull into the correct paddock, where the cows were grazing.
However, for reasons unknown, Mr Kowalski got out of the jeep and was then attacked in the open field by the bull.
Emergency services rushed to his aid but he was declared dead at the scene.
Dr Terezia Lazlo, who performed the post mortem report on Mr Kowalski, gave evidence of her findings, telling the Kilmallock Court that Mr Kowalski had suffered shock having sustained broken ribs and a laceration to one lung and his liver, which caused internal bleeding.
Asked by Mr Kowalski’s sister, who was in court, whether he would have suffered through the ordeal, Dr Lazlo said that because of the lung laceration it was “likely that he quickly lost consciousness and would not have felt pain for long”.
The coroner told the jury that because the tragedy was classed as a workplace accident, the Health and Safety Authority (HSA) became involved and conducted an investigation.
“They did not bring any prosecution. In my experience, if they see anything amiss, they will prosecute,” Mr McNamara said.
He advised the jury that, in his opinion, “this was a tragic accident and that is the appropriate verdict”.
After retiring for a short time, the jury said they agreed a unanimous verdict of accidental death.
The foreperson passed on the jury’s condolences to Mr Kowalski’s family and the coroner passed his own condolences and that of the court.
Sergeant Dave Delahunty, who conducted the presentation of evidence at the hearing, offered condolences to the family on his behalf and on behalf of An Garda SÃochána.
– Court Reporting Scheme