Mystery over tragic dad’s fall from roof

JASON Fogarty

AN Oldham father-of two was fatally injured after falling 35ft from a roof.

Jason Fogarty was working as a part-time labourer for his fiancee’s stepfather in Honey Street near Strangeways prison, Manchester, when he lost his balance and fell to his death.

An Manchester inquest jury heard Mr Fogarty (24) was working as a casual for his partner’s step-father, Roy Hardacre on December 22, 2013.

Mr Hardacre told police at the incident that Mr Fogarty was kneeling on the roof to pull up or lower an object on a rope. At the inquest he insisted he hadn’t known Jason had climbed from a ladder to stand on the roof.

PC Peter Mullings said: “I was told (by Mr Hardacre) that Jason was on the roof on his knees, leaning over the edge to pull up some equipment by a rope.

Det Sgt Alex Wild added: “There was weight on the end of the rope and that could have affected the balance of the person pulling it up.”

Mr Hardacre, visibly upset, told the inquest: “There was nothing attached to the ropes. There was no need for him to be pulling anything up.”

Mr Hardacre said that while he was on the roof he turned his back and at that point Mr Fogarty must have climbed on the roof.

“When I was on the roof with my back turned I heard a bang on the roof. I saw the back of Jason fall,” he said. He rushed down to give Jason CPR, as he was still breathing. Paramedics later tried to revive him for 40 minutes before he was pronounced dead.

Mr Hardacre said he had taken on his future son-in-law to help him earn extra cash before Christmas.

Mr Fogarty had a condition that could cause weakness and cramps, but hadn’t complained of feeling unwell on th day of his death, and managed the condition well.

A post-mortem found he died from multiple internal injuries, but pathologist Dr Richard Fitzmorris said it was possible the condition could have caused dizziness.