A man in his late 50s from Levalley, Rathdowney, Co Laois, died in a tragic farm accident after he was crushed by machinery. The body of John Loughman was found on Thursday 28 July at approximately 7.30pm.

According to local reports, the man had been crushed between the buckrake and the tractor as he was loading bales of hay.

It is believed the body had been there for a few days before it was found.

The Health and Safety Authority was notified of the incident on Thursday and inspectors attended the scene over the weekend.

I'd like to extend my deepest condolences to John's family

John is survived by his sisters Margaret, Mary and Eileen, nephew, nieces, his uncle Martin, brother-in-law Michael Burke, cousins, relatives and friends.

'Extending sympathies'

Extending his sympathies to John's family, Francis Gorman, IFA county chair for Laois, said when working alone it is important to keep in touch with family and friends.

"I'd like to extend my deepest condolences to John's family," he said. "Farmers are becoming more safety-conscious but we can still do more to continue to encourage safety on the farm. This man was probably doing what he does week in, week out but it only takes a small thing to go wrong for a tragedy to happen."

Farm death in Co Mayo

Meanwhile, a farmer in his 50s was killed in an accident that took place on Mweelrea Mountain in Co Mayo on Saturday 30 July.

It appears that the man, named locally as Christy Gallagher, fell while he was moving sheep. He was pronounced dead at the scene and the Irish Coastguard helped to remove the body which was taken to Mayo University Hospital. Christy is survived by his wife Peggy and four children.

These two deaths bring to eleven the number of farm deaths so far in 2016.

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