Farmers are being urged not to approach fallen wires, as they are always live and never safe to come near or touch.
Speaking to the Irish Farmers Journal, ESB Networks public safety manager Arthur Byrne advised farmers that should they see a fallen wire or any other damage to ESB Networks’ equipment, to stay clear and contact ESB Networks’ 24 Hour Emergency number immediately on 1850-372 999.
“We urge farmers to never approach fallen wires; electricity wires are always live and never safe to come near or touch.
“The priority is to always stay safe and contact the ESB Networks’ emergency number immediately,” he said.
Last week, Cavan farmer Vincent Crowe told the Irish Farmers Journal that he learned a lesson after three of his cows were electrocuted during Storm Hector.
On Thursday evening two weeks ago, he was going out of the lane from his yard and noticed that one of the ESB wires was a bit loose. It was getting dark, so he said he would check it in the morning.
“I called the ESB and they said they would get a crew out to it.
"The ESB crew came out to check it out and one of the men from ESB said: ‘Is that your field out the front?’ I told him it was and he said: ‘You’ve three dead cattle in the field,’” Crowe said.
It was another half an hour before the ESB confirmed the line was dead so he could go in to check the dead cattle. It emerged that the wire had snapped at the ESB pole. The cattle, an Angus bullock, a Moiled heifer and a Friesian cow were electrocuted as a result of the wire snapping. There were six other cattle in the field at the time.
“I could have run down into that field to see what happened and I could have been electrocuted. An accident like that could have happened very quickly. I have learned a lesson,” he said.