Legal action over mine death
The widow and daughters of a man who died when he was crushed by a bulldozer at a gold mine in Ghana are suing Perth-based company Ausdrill.
Mary Farrell and her children, Sorcha Caitriona Egan and Shona Anne-Marie Egan, are seeking millions of dollars in damages over the death of 49-year-old John Egan.
Mr Egan died when he fell from a bulldozer being driven by local man Joseph Ampomah on October 3, 2011.
The family now live in Ireland and are being represented by law firm Slater and Gordon.
According to a writ lodged in the Supreme Court last week, Mr Egan was supervising Mr Ampomah as he undertook a competency test as part of a job application.
He was dragged between the tracks and fender when Mr Ampomah released the handbrake as he was climbing down the machine.
Mr Egan had checked the man's license and identification documents before the test but an investigation by Ghana police found these had been forged.
His family claim his death was caused by Ausdrill's breach of its duty of care.
They are seeking $4194 a week for the next 15 years or until the date when Mr Egan would have retired.
The also want the same amount of money each week from the day of the accident up until the judgement.
"At all material times, the first plaintiff, the second plaintiff and the third plaintiff were dependents of the deceased," the writ says.
Mr Egan and his wife were both born in Ireland but their daughters, aged 19 and 25, were born in Kalgoorlie.
The family is also seeking general damages for mental distress as well as treatment and funeral expenses.
Mr Egan was offered a job with Ausdrill as a production superintendant in Ghana in May 2011.
A company spokesman said it would be inappropriate to comment on a matter that was before the courts.
