Employee dies at Pernod Ricard site in Ireland

A man has died at a Pernod Ricard-owned facility in Ireland following a work-related accident.

Jameson maker Pernod Ricard has confirmed the death of one of its employees in an industrial accident

Staff member Dominic Knowles, in his 40s, died after an “industrial accident”, which occurred at about 9am yesterday (12 March) in Dungourney, County Cork, where Pernod Ricard owns a large warehousing complex.

The Health & Safety Authority has confirmed that Knowles was fatally injured by a forklift truck.

He was pronounced dead at the scene. A post mortem will take place at Cork University Hospital.

An investigation by Gardaí and the Health & Safety Authority is currently underway. Irish Distillers is “co-operating fully” with the investigation.

Irish Distillers chairman and CEO Jean-Christophe Coutures said: “Dominic was a highly valued and extremely popular member of the Irish Distillers family.

“We would like to express our deepest sympathy to Dominic’s family, his friends and his colleagues.

“We are offering every support available to Dominic’s family and to all those affected by this tragic accident.

“As a mark of respect for Dominic, his family and the wider Irish Distillers family we have cancelled a number of promotional events that were scheduled to take place this week.”

The Dungourney maturation site is based near Pernod Ricard’s Midleton Distillery and is currently undertaking a €100m expansion.