Brian Whelan, aged 29, of O'Briensbridge in Co Clare, and father-of-two Timothy O'Herlihy, aged 36, from Castleisland, Co Kerry, drowned when the steel cage they were working in collapsed into the River Shannon on 29 August 2015.
Luke Carbery, on behalf of Palfinger Ireland Ltd, based in Tullamore, Co Offaly, and Nationwide Crane Hire director, Brendan Rainsford, based at Dock Road, Co Limerick, both pleaded guilty to breaches of the Health and Safety Act. In a statement outside Limerick Circuit Court, Solicitor Sean Fitzgerald, acting on behalf of Mr Whelan's parents John and Margaret and his family, said they welcomed Judge O'Donnell's decision but said they have waited over seven years to get answers as to why their son died tragically in a workplace accident.
"This step offers some closure after seven long years. We will continue to fight in the civil proceedings, where the defendants still have not admitted liability," said Mr Fitzgerald.