Farming world in shock as champion ploughman killed in farm accident

Martin’s uncle Willie Kehoe said: "It’s terrible. Martin was the best of the best.

"It’s an unbelievable disaster."

"Everything had been going so well for Martin and the family. He had a great business going with meal and animal feeds. The business was absolutely flying."

Teagasc director Gerry Boyle expressed his sympathy with the Kehoe family.

“It does underline again how dangerous an activity farming is. It’s becoming an increasingly dangerous activity and we have to be always vigilant,” he told RTÉ News.

The Health and Safety Authority inspectors are investigating the accident.

Gardai were also present at the farm yesterday, but are treating the death as a tragic accident.

A file will be prepared by them for the coroner’s court.

The incident comes just a week after a man was killed in a mushroom processing plant in Co. Monaghan.

Two other men were hospitalised.

Emergency services were called to the factory where all three of the men were found suffering from breathing difficulties.

They were all found collapsed in a silo plant.

Gary Askin, 22, was pronounced dead at the scene while his brother Stephen and another man were taken to Cavan General Hospital.

Both men’s injuries are not believed to be life threatening.