Family of Cork Stryker worker who died after factory explosion launch legal action

THE family of a man who died months after an explosion at the Stryker Ireland factory in Cork has launched a legal action.

John Murphy, a 41-year-old father of three, from Watergrasshill in Cork died in June last year nearly two months after the explosion at Stryker’s Anngrove facility in Carrigtwohill on April 18, 2023.

An inspection of the factory where Mr Murphy was allegedly critically injured in a workplace explosion is now to take place after an application before the High Court on Monday.

Mr Justice Paul Coffey ordered that the inspection of the Stryker Ireland factory at Carrigtwohill include the attendance of the solicitor for the Murphy family from Cantillons Solicitors.

The move comes as John Murphy’s mother, Eileen Murphy, has launched a High Court action over the death of her son who it is claimed sustained life-threatening injuries as a result of an explosion at the Stryker facility at Carrigtwohill, Co Cork, on April 18, 2023.

Mr Murphy was an employee of facilities management company, Apleona, and it is claimed was working with a colleague on equipment on the roof when there was an explosion. Both were injured, Mr Murphy allegedly suffered severe and extensive blast and burn injuries.

Mr Murphy’s mother Eileen has on behalf of her husband Sean and their extended family sued Stryker Ireland Ltd and Apleona Ireland Ltd for nervous shock and also over the death of Mr Murphy. It is understood that liability is denied.

The Murphy’s counsel, Oonah McCrann SC instructed by Cantillons Solicitors, told the High Court that Mr Murphy, who had burns to 75% of his body, had “a very painful, horrific and lingering death.”

She said the solicitors for the Murphy family had sought to have an engineering inspection of the Stryker facility where the accident occurred and on two occasions had written asking for inspection facilities to be provided but did not receive an answer from Stryker.

Ms McCrann said it was a huge distress to Mrs Murphy but it has since been confirmed that an engineering inspection would be permitted, but that a legal representative would not be allowed.

Counsel said it was a complex case and it was not unusual for a solicitor to attend such an inspection. She said no reason was proffered why a solicitor should not be at the engineering inspection.

Grainne Larkin BL for Stryker said a reason had never been put forward as to why the Murphy’s solicitor needed to attend the site inspection. She said, if that was the case, that the legal representatives allowed there would be three engineers and three solicitors on site for the inspection.

The court heard that Apleona Ireland Ltd had no issue with an engineering inspection taking place.

Making the order that the inspection include the Murphy’s solicitor, Mr Justice Coffey said the matter should also be recorded. He said it was a matter for Stryker and Apleona whether they wanted their legal representatives to attend the inspection