Three farm deaths in the space of a week have left the farming community in a state of shock.

An eight-year-old girl died in a tractor-related incident on Tuesday evening in the Islandeady region of Co Mayo.

Also in Mayo, a farmer in his 50s was killed in an accident on Mweelrea Mountain on Saturday. Named locally as Christy Gallagher, it appears that he fell while moving sheep. Mr Gallagher was pronounced dead at the scene and the Irish Coastguard helped to remove his body, which was taken to Mayo University Hospital.

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John Loughman, from Rathdowney, Co Laois, was found on Thursday 28 July at approximately 7.30pm. Mr Loughman, who was is his late 50s, was trapped between a buck rake and tractor as he was loading bales of hay, according to local reports. It is believed his body had been there for a few days before being found.

These accidents bring the total number of farm deaths this year to 12.

Fatalities are generally higher in summer months and the Health and Safety Authority (HSA) has appealed to farmers to “take great care at this busy time on farms”.

In a statement to the Irish Farmers Journal, the HSA said it “is investigating a number of fatal injuries that occurred on farms over the last week and extend sympathies to all concerned at this most difficult time. We know that the farming community will rally round and support these families and that farming organisations will also join with us to encourage all farmers to focus on working safely.”

Recent research indicates that a higher number of farm workplace deaths occur in June and July, a spokesperson for the HSA said. Friday and Saturday are statistically the deadliest days of the week on farms, which may suggest that rushing to complete work or not having full concentration on the work at hand might be contributing factors.