Shea Ryan, 10, died after falling through an open manhole at a construction site in Glasgow when a contractor failed to implement adequate safety measures, a court has heard.
Shea entered the site in the city's Drumchapel area with other children through an insecure fence in July 2020. He told friends he wanted to climb down the manhole, but slipped on a ladder and fell 6.3 metres to the water below, Glasgow Sheriff Court was told.
Contractor RJ McLeod admitted breaching health and safety laws. An investigation found the company had failed to fully assess risks, including the site's proximity to a play park, and had not erected a double fence or maintained an adequate system for monitoring damage to the fencing.
Shea's mother, Joanne Ferguson, said his death was totally avoidable. "My son is not here and that destroys me every day. That totally avoidable accident has ruined my life and my kids' lives," she said in a statement. "I just hope this makes them consider site safety everywhere."
The court heard that since the incident, RJ McLeod has increased its fencing measures, added manhole cover checks, and installed motion sensors and solar-powered security cameras. Sentencing was deferred, and a fatal accident inquiry into Shea's death will take place at a later date.
