Norfolk crash: Helicopter victims died 'instantly'

Lord Ballyedmond was one of Northern Ireland's richest men

Four men, including Northern Ireland peer Lord Ballyedmond, were killed instantly when a helicopter crashed, an inquest has heard.

The Agusta Westland AW139 crashed in a field at Gillingham, Norfolk, on 13 March.

Lord Ballyedmond - Dr Edward Haughey, 70 - foreman Declan Small, 42, and pilots Capt Carl Dickerson, 36, and Capt Lee Hoyle, 45, died of head and chest injuries.

The Norwich hearing was adjourned.

Dr Haughey of Rostrevor, County Down, owned Gillingham Hall near the crash site.

Mr Small was a site foreman for Lord Ballyedmond's company Norbrook Laboratories.

Both Capt Dickerson, of Thornton, Lancashire, and Capt Hoyle, from Macclesfield, Cheshire, worked for Haughey Air Ltd, another of Lord Ballyedmond's businesses.

Dr Edward Haughey became Lord Ballyedmond of Mourne when he was made a life peer in 2004.

A leading industrialist, he owned veterinary pharmaceutical firm Norbrook Laboratories in Newry, County Down, and had a range of other business interests.

As well as being a member of the House of Lords, he was a former member of the Irish senate.

The findings of Air Accidents Investigation Branch investigators are expected in about a year's time.