Widow of Finnebrogue founder calls for new quad bike laws to be introduced

The widow of top Northern Irish entrepreneur, Denis Lynn has called for new laws to tackle “quad bike death traps”.

Leading businessman Mr Lynn died in May 2021 following a quad bike accident on his Finnebrogue estate in County Down.

The founder of Finnebrogue and acclaimed as one of the UK’s most successful entrepreneurs, Mr Lynn was a regular user of quad bikes, but was crushed by his when it rolled over at low speed.

On the anniversary of his death, his widow Christine now wants the law to change, saying that these vehicles “will continue to be death traps without additional safety measures”.

Mrs Lynn is calling for the UK to follow Australia in making roll bars mandatory on quad bikes, a measure which would have saved her husband’s life. She is also calling for mandatory helmets, licences and training.

Mrs Lynn has written to the UK Transport Secretary, Mark Harper and authorities in Belfast to call for quad bike safety rules to keep pace with Australia, where roll bars are now a legal requirement.

LOVING HUSBAND AND FATHER

“My late husband Denis, a regular user of a quad bike on our Finnebrogue estate, died in May 2021 following an accident at low speed. I now deem it my responsibility to do what I can to stop an accident like this happening again to another family,” said Mrs Lynn.

“Denis was a loving husband and father. He left behind me and his four daughters, including Ciara, who was 17 that spring Sunday evening on the farm when she witnessed her dad have his accident.

“Nothing will bring Denis back; not to us, or the Finnebrogue family which he left behind. We will forever remember the extraordinary achievements which established him as one of the UK’s leading entrepreneurs and changed so many lives for the better.

‘We will forever remember the extraordinary achievements which established him as one of the UK’s leading entrepreneurs and changed so many lives for the better’

“But one thing we would all like to ensure is that nobody else suffers Denis’s fate. I know if Denis were still here today – and it was one of his daughters who had been in an accident – he would not rest until we strengthened health and safety rules for quad bikes and increased public awareness into the risks they pose.

“I have been shocked to learn of the number of other similar accidents on quad bikes. I have also been shocked to learn the UK has slipped behind other developed nations such as Australia, where roll bars are mandatory on quad bikes.

“If there were roll bars on Denis’s bike, he would still be with us. It also seems scandalous that anybody can ride a quad bike off road without a licence – and that in England, Scotland and Wales you don’t have to wear a helmet.

“These vehicles will continue to be death traps without additional safety measures.”

BUSINESS AND POLITICAL SUPPORT

Mrs Lynn has received huge support from leading business and political figures across Northern Ireland, with former First Minister Dame Arlene Foster pledging her support.

“There is no reason why roll bars should not be fitted to quad bikes as standard practice, especially if it can save lives,” said Dame Foster.

“I strongly support Christine in this campaign,” she added.

Baroness Ritchie of Downpatrick, a neighbour of the Lynn family, added her support.

“I support Christine and the Lynn family with the campaign to review the safety laws into quad bikes and will be raising this in Parliamentary questions in the House of Lords.”

Jim Shannon MP gave a strong message to the Health & Safety Executive: “Roll bars must be mandatory. I will be taking this up with the Prime Minister,” he said.