Gardai believe the 32-year-old man who died after he was tipped into a waste disposal truck from a wheelie bin for recyclables had been asleep for an hour inside the bin before it was emptied.

It is understood he entered the bin to take a nap after he was ejected from a bed and breakfast.

The body of Declan Power, a father of one, from near Bunmahon in Co Waterford, was found at a waste recycling facility near Listowel, Co Kerry, on Friday afternoon.

It is believed Mr Power had arrived in Listowel on a fishing trip with others but had ended up at the Harvest Festival races which were taking place in Listowel on Friday.

It is understood Mr Power and another man were ejected from the B&B where they had gone to a room with a number of others because the accommodation was booked for only two people. Garda CCTV cameras recorded Mr Power climbing into the wheelie bin at around 3.30am.

The bin was collected an hour later by the crusher truck.

A post mortem carried out by pathologist Dr Margot Bolster on Saturday morning revealed that Mr Power died from injuries sustained in the truck.

The bins would have been automatically lifted into the trucks where waste is partially crushed by the weight of other waste.

Mr Power's body was discovered at the waste sorting facility, at Kilmorna around three miles from Listowel at around 4pm on Friday.

Workers who made the discovery were said to be extremely upset.

Gardai were immediately called to the scene and a thorough examination carried out.The horrific accident has also shocked local people.

Deputy Mayor of Listowel Anthony Curtin spoke of the sense of shock: "This is a tragic accident. This young man came to Listowel to enjoy himself.

"We are shocked here in Listowel and we offer our sympathies to his relatives and we are so sorry this happened."

The week-long race meeting, now in its 151st year, drew huge crowds to the north Kerry town.

Source Irish Independent

Belfast Telegraph