TRIBUTES HAVE BEEN paid to a teenager who lost his life in a tragic work incident in Co Cavan on Thursday afternoon.

The teenager has been named locally as Reece Donohue (17) from Upper Main Street in Kilnaleck, a village in the county.

The fatal incident occurred at the Wilton site at Kifagh, near Ballyjamesduff shortly after 4.30pm on Thursday June 13th.

Gardaí and emergency services attended, but the 17-year-old worker was pronounced deceased at the scene.

His body was removed from the scene to the mortuary in Cavan General Hospital and a post-mortem examination was subsequently carried out. The Health and Safety Authority (HSA) were also notified, and a file will be prepared for the Coroner’s Court.

In a statement, a spokesperson for Wilton Waste said:

“The company offers their deepest condolences to the employee’s family at this very sad time. As a mark of respect, the company has decided to close the gates until further notice.”

Local councillor Trevor Smith says the people of the wider Kilnaleck area are shocked and saddened by this awful tragedy.

He described the deceased was a “popular young lad”, and that the local community in Kilnaleck and surrounding areas were reeling in “shock” from the news.

He added “I’m sure the local community will support Reece’s family in any way they can,” said Cllr Smith, who also expressed his deepest sympathies to the teenager’s family.

Another local who knew the family described Reece as “A lovely young man who never caused a fuss”.

While another described him as “a lad that any mother would be proud to have as your son”.

Reece who was a pupil at Saint Clare’s College in Ballyjamesduff in Cavan is survived by his parents Mary and Brian and siblings Jade, Amber and Niall. No funeral arrangements have been made as yet.

A spokesperson for An Garda Síochána confirmed that emergency services were alerted to a fatal workplace accident at a premises in Cavan on Thursday.

A post-mortem will take place in due course and the Health and Safety Authority has been notified.