Brother's death a 'black day' for Carlow farming community
The Health and Safety Authority and gardaí are investigating a farming accident in which a 14-year-old boy died in Carlow yesterday morning.
Donal English Hayden and his brother were in a tractor and trailer combination that overturned and ended up in a water-filled ditch.
The accident happened in a beet field around two miles outside the town of Ballon at around 10.30am yesterday.
The boys were brought to St Luke's Hospital in Kilkenny, where Donal died of his injuries. His 15-year-old brother suffered minor injuries and was released from hospital.
They are members of a large family who are well known in the area.
Photographer Pat Moore was at the scene of the accident yesterday and said the family was devastated.
"These two kids were on their last day of holidays before going back to school tomorrow," he said.
"It's so sad…Just looking at the amount of neighbours going in to commiserate with the family - you just wonder how they can put their lives back together."
Fine Gael TD for Carlow Kilkenny Pat Deering said yesterday was "a very black day" for the local community.
He said: "It's a very tragic case, a freak accident. Donal has lost his life but fortunately his brother was released from hospital which is good news for his family from that point of view."
