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Full Details

Surname
DONNELLY
Forename
Micahel
Day
08
Month
04
Year
1924
Age
24
Occupation
Brusher
Mine/Quarry Name
Thankerton, No.6 Pit
Mineral Worked
Coal
Owner
McAndrew & Co. Ltd
Location
Holytown
County
Lanarkshire
Details of Event
11 April 1924: Terrible Holytown Fatal Accident – A terrible pit fatality occurred at Holytown on Friday night, casting a gloom over the large mining community resident in the district. Between 6 and 7 o’clock a young man named Michael Donnelly (24) a brusher residing at Central Avenue, Holytown Road, was at work in the Anderson machine section of the dook in No.6 Pit, Thankerton Colliery, when in the course of blasting operations for clearing a new road, a shot went off in Donnelly's vicinity, and through some cause or other he was unable to clear himself in time, with the result that he was struck and instantly killed. His body was terribly mutilated. A second man named Harry Mulvaney, residing at Chapelhall, who was working as mate to Donnelly at the time, was also in the vicinity when the shot went off. He suffered from shock, and had to be medically attended. [Motherwell Times 18 April 1924] Holytown Miner’s Death Inquiry - At Airdrie Sheriff Court on Friday a fatal accidents inquiry was made regarding the deaths of several persons which had occurred during the past few weeks. Among at the cases to be heard was the death of Michael Donnelly, miner, 18 Central Avenue, Holytown, who was killed on the 8th April in No.6 Pit, Thankerton Pit, Holytown, worked by John M`Andrew & Co., Ltd. The evidence showed that deceased was engaged with- another man in the firing of a shot in the mine, when the shot suddenly went off while he was in close proximity, burying him in the debris, and practically having his head blown off. The Sheriff said there might be some doubt; on the evidence as to whether deceased had gone back on the shot after having fired it, but it was quite evident that he was killed by the explosion. The jury returned a formal verdict. [Motherwell Times 6 June 1924] NB We have not checked the correct date of this accident.