The Health and Safety Authority (HSA) and Armagh-based machinery manufacturer NC Engineering earlier this month issued a safety alert in relation to the trailers and urged owners to return them to their suppliers.

Adam Mangan, a 19-year-old college student from Offaly, died from injuries he sustained when he was struck by the tailgate of an NC300 trailer on a farm at Derryarkin, Rhode, on October 3 2015.

The inquest heard he had been picked up from his home at Barnaboy, Daingean by Thomas Boland Jnr that morning and they had gone to the Boland farm at Derryarkin to work for the day.

Thomas Boland Jnr was moving gravel with a tractor and 14t trailer and the tragedy occurred when Adam Mangan came to help him.

Mr Boland had raised the trailer to tip a load and then noticed that the trailer was not going down properly.

After he and Mangan looked at it Boland returned to the tractor cab.

He then heard a bang and looked out and saw the teenager’s body at the back of the trailer.

HSA

John Hayes, an engineer engaged by the HSA to investigate the accident, said that although the trailer was badly maintained there was a design fault with it and the incident had been replicated with a similar model in perfect condition.

He believed the problem with the tailgate occurred when a stone became jammed in the trailer mechanism.

PJ Claffey, a manager with the HSA, said the authority had taken Mr Hayes’ expert report on board and had been working with the trailer manufacturer.

Mr Claffey urged farmers with NC 300 trailers dating from 2006 or before to contact their suppliers.

The safety alert had been placed on the HSA website and in the Irish Farmers Journal.

“We’re trying to get the word out there to the farming community that these trailers have this defect,” Claffey said.

Offaly county coroner Brian Mahon said he hoped the evidence might save the lives of others working with similar machines.

Adam Mangan was a talented young sportsman with Kilclonfert GAA club who played minor football for Offaly and underage rugby for Leinster.

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NC Engineering issues trailer recall