A tragic construction accident  in upstate New York has taken the life of 24-year-old Gary Feeney of Dorchester and Lugdoon, Templeboy, Co. Sligo.

Gary, nephew to Brendan, Greg and Lorcan Feeney, owners of Feeney Brother Excavation Corp., was killed in a tragic accident in Ballston on an upstate New York construction site on Saturday April 13, 2013.

New York State police reports that Gary was pinned under a 40-foot pipe he was helping to unload from a flatbed tractor trailer. He was taken to Saratoga hospital where he was pronounced dead at 11:20 a.m.

A statement from the New York state police reads:   

“On April 13, 2013, at approximately 10:42 am,  New York State Police - Saratoga was dispatched to a National Grid construction site on the northwest corner of St-67 and East Line Road in the Town of Ballston for a report of a construction accident involving a  pipe that had fallen on a worker.  Upon arrival, State Police Members located the victim laying face down on the ground - other workers at the site had removed a 12 inch by 40 foot pipe from the victim.  Community Ambulance, of Ballston Spa arrived and assumed treatment and the victim was transported to Saratoga Hospital, where he was pronounced deceased at 11:20 AM. 
 
“The victim is identified as Gary T. Feeney, 24 years old of Dorchester Mass.  Feeney is employed by National Grid subcontractor Feeney Brothers Corp of Dorchester Mass.  Initial investigation at the scene indicates that the victim was assisting in unloading the 1700 pound pipe from a flatbed tractor trailer and was holding a guide rope while the pipe was being lifted by an excavator with steel cables and hooks.  The pipe is believed to have shifted causing slack in one of cables and dislodging one of the hooks.  This caused the pipe to fall approximately 8 feet from the top of the load, pinning the victim to the ground. The NYSP is assisting the National Grid Internal Audit Team, Public Service Commission and OSHA.  A joint investigation is continuing.’’

Gary is survived by his beloved wife Kelly Melvin-Feeney of Ballina, Co. Mayo, brothers Owen and Stephen, sisters Andrea and Orla, his grandmother Mary Feeney, Dromore West, Co. Sligo, son-in-law to Joe and Patricia Melvin; proud uncle to Sean, Conor and godfather to Lorcan and his broken hearted parents Norma and Fergus.

Funeral arrangements are being handled by William J. Gormley Funeral Service. Details of the wake and funeral will be available online at www.gormleyfuneral.com.