It is understood that two men were working on a farm in the Killygordon area of the county when a tractor tyre they were inflating exploding killing them both. The emergency services were called but the two men were pronounced dead at the scene. The Health and Safety Authority (HSA) has been notified and an investigation will take place.

These deaths bring to 28 the number of people who have died on Irish farms so far in 2014. Sixteen lives were lost as a result of accidents on Irish farms in all of 2013. Speaking to the Irish Farmers Journal last week, Pat Griffin, who is a senior inspector with the HSA, described 2014 as a "black year" for farm safety.

It was revealed by the Irish Farmers Journal last week that the HSA from 1 January 2015 will have new powers which means it can bring farmers straight to prosecution for found having a child under the age of seven in the cab of agricultural machine, if any part of a PTO shaft is found to be uncovered or if a slurry access point is uncovered.