A father and daughter who were killed in an Offaly workplace incident this week have been named locally as Denisa Chinez and Mihai Chinez.
The tragic incident occurred at Banagher Precast Concrete on Monday morning, with the pair pronounced dead at the scene.
Denisa and Mihai were understood to be preparing a concrete mould at the time of the incident.
Originally from Romania, the father was 49 and the daughter was 24. It is believed that Denisa’s mother also works at the plant in Banagher.
Emergency services were called to the scene at around 11.40am on Monday, with a Garda spokesperson confirming that a post-mortem would take place at Midlands Regional Hospital Tullamore.
Cllr John Leahy of Offaly County Council said that the local community was in ‘deep shock’ over the incident.
He added: ‘I drove down myself and there’s just silence there. Everyone is wondering and waiting for the news to break.
‘The whole plant has been closed down, and people are saddened for the management, staff and their families who have to grieve this loss.’
Meanwhile, Deputy Tony McCormack said: ‘I am deeply saddened by the tragic news coming from Banagher, where two people have lost their lives following a workplace incident.
‘My thoughts are first and foremost with the family members and loved ones of the man and woman who tragically lost their lives.
‘I am also thinking of their friends, work colleagues and everyone at Banagher Precast Concrete, as well as the wider Banagher community, at what is an incredibly difficult and shocking time. My deepest sympathies go to everyone affected by this terrible tragedy.’
Other politicians have also expressed sympathy for those affected by the incident, with Independent Offaly TD Carol Nolan describing it as a ‘devastating day’.
Fine Gael TD John Clendennen added that the tragic news had ‘cast a dark cloud’ over the town of Banagher.
Banagher Precast Concrete released a statement to RTE, saying that their immediate priority would be supporting the families involved after the ‘devastating tragedy for everyone connected with our company’.
The company said that the circumstances surrounding the tragic incident are currently unclear, but a full investigation will be conducted.
It added that employee safety has ‘always been a core value and is embedded throughout our daily operations’, with the severity of Monday’s events ‘unprecedented’ for the group.
