A 67-year-old man was killed in a farm accident involving a quad in Co. Mayo yesterday evening, Thursday, September 21.

According to An Garda Siochana, the man, believed to be a farmer, was killed when the quad bike he was driving overturned. The incident occurred near Ballyheane, Castlebar, Co. Mayo.

The accident happened shortly after 8:00pm.

The man was pronounced dead at the scene and his body was moved to Mayo University Hospital for a post-mortem. He has been named locally as Anthony (Tony) O’Malley from Derrew, Ballyheane.

Both the Gardai and the Health and Safety Authority (HSA) are investigating the incident.

This is the second farm death this week, and this accident brings the total number of farm-related deaths so far this year to 17.

Earlier this week, on Tuesday, Martin Kehoe Jnr, son of three-time world ploughing champion Martin Kehoe, died while working in or around a molasses tank in Foulkesmills, Co. Wexford.

A married father of three, he had previously won a national ploughing title of his own in the ‘Under 28 Conventional Ploughing’ category in 2006. His children range from just 10 weeks to six years of age.

These deaths come just a week after a man was killed in a mushroom processing plant in Co. Monaghan. Two others were seriously injured in that incident. Emergency services received a call at approximately 8:00pm on Monday, September 13. They made their way to the mushroom processing plant at Cornacrieve, Emyvale in Co. Monaghan.

On arrival, emergency services found three men unconscious in a silo at the plant, An Garda Siochana confirmed.

One man was pronounced dead at the scene and two others were removed to Cavan General Hospital, the Gardai added.