Third farming tragedy in area in two years

In February last year father-of-five David Mayne, from Katesbridge was crushed as he tried to change the wheel of a slurry tanker.

And just three months ago another tragedy occurred at the Redhill Road in Dromore. William McMillan, a father-of-two, died after, it is believed, he fell into a slurry pit.

The incident happened just nine miles from where Noel, Graham and Nevin Spence met their deaths on Saturday evening.

The Health and Safety Executive (HSENI) said two of its senior inspectors attended the scene at the Spence family farm at the weekend.

“From HSENI’s initial investigations it understands that the three family members who entered an underground slurry tank died from the effects of exposure to slurry gases,” it said.

“The exact sequence of events is not yet clear, but HSENI is investigating a definite line of enquiry.”

Slurry is a mixture of cow manure and water which is used as a natural fertiliser on the fields.

But the gases generated, particularly hydrogen sulphide, as it decomposes in slurry tanks can be lethal.

In January this year the HSE launched an initiative to reduce the number of farm deaths.

Speaking earlier this year Jim King of the HSE said, “It’s the worst period that we can ever remember where there has been a consistent, unrelenting death toll in the farming industry.”

He said he has been in his role for 25 years and cannot yet determine if there are any direct reasons for the increase in cases.