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No end for widow's heartache

An inquest verdict of unlawful killing brings back hurt of newlywed's construction death By Angela Sammon - 14/02/07

THE WIDOW of a young steel-fixer has told of her heartbreak following the conclusion of the inquest into her husband’s death on a construction site in 2004.

A jury returned a verdict of “unlawful killing” in the case of Kieron Deeney, an experienced steel fixer from Rathmullan, Co. Donegal, who fell 12metres to his death when a hatch cover gave way at a construction site in Canary Wharf, London. He was aged 25.

The company admitted responsibility for Mr Deeney's death during a civil claim for compensation last year. His widow, Jennifer received £220,000, but it has done little to fill the gap left by her husband’s death, which happened just three months after their wedding.

“It’s a strange feeling,” she told The Irish World following last week’s verdict at St. Pancras coroner’s court in central London.

“You expect a bit of a high but I’ve been feeling very flat since the case concluded. It’s little solace, but I suppose I can take comfort in the fact that people know it wasn’t Kieron’s fault. All I ever wanted was the truth and the unlawful killing verdict.

“It’s been a very sad time because it brings it all back. I’m back to the sleepless nights again but then I haven’t really slept properly in two and a half years.”

The couple had been planning to return to Jennifer Deeney’s native Straide in County Mayo, but she will remain in London to see any further prosecutions surrounding the case through to their conclusion.

The completion of the inquest means the Health & Safety Executive will now be able to decide on whether to bring a criminal prosecution against the company under the Health and Safety Act 1974. Police are also reinvestigating the accident and company employees could face criminal charges.

However, Jennifer was adamant that she wants the company to assume responsibility and that it would be wrong to point the finger at any one individual who had responsibility for securing the hatch. It was discovered during the investigation that the hatch had only been secured with an old piece of plywood, later found to have wet rot, held together with two nails.

For the full story, get your copy of The Irish World.