Naples – A mournful silence enveloped the church of San Giorgio Maggiore in Forcella as Vincenzo Del Grosso, 53, one of the three victims of the tragic workplace accident on Via San Giacomo dei Capri, paid his last respects.
The coffin, accompanied by a moved crowd, marked a moment of profound reflection on the wake of avoidable losses.
A homily against "war" and the pain of families
Next to the coffin were his partner Carmen with their children, and his ex-wife with their daughter Manila, who felt ill shortly before the ceremony began but wanted to stay until the end.
During his homily, parish priest Don Antonio struck a chord with those present, denouncing a "war that isn't just on the news but also in our neighborhoods: in workplace deaths, in femicides, in avoidable deaths."
The priest urged everyone not to "look the other way," urging everyone to "do something, each in their own role, to stop this trail of pain." Addressing Manila, he added: "A father's love never ends. It remains and accompanies, even when his voice and physical presence are missing."
The lawyer's complaint: "No control, no responsibility"
City Councilor Chiara Marciani and Forza Italia regional councilor Francesco Cascone were present at the service. The party, as confirmed by the family, covered the funeral expenses.
The Archbishop of Naples, Domenico Battaglia , sent a message read in church, underlining the lack of rules and the “missed responsibilities” and reiterating that “those who work have the right to return home”.
Outside the church, the family's lawyer, Gianluca Zanfardino, issued a stern warning. He recalled that the company Del Grosso worked for had already been convicted in 2022 for a serious accident, but the statute of limitations had expired.
"No controls, no intervention. And today we mourn three victims. This is a collective responsibility," he said, casting a shadow over a prevention and safety system that appears to be failing.
Silvestro's appeal: "Safety must be a concrete priority."
Senator Francesco Silvestro, deputy regional secretary of Forza Italia in Campania, commented on the tragedy, emphasizing the need for concrete action. "The pain of the death of Vincenzo Del Grosso and the other two workers... is still alive.
We can no longer look the other way. No one can say, 'It's not my job,'" Silvestro declared. "Workplace safety must be an absolute and concrete priority, not a mere title after every tragedy." The senator concluded by reiterating his party's commitment to standing by Vincenzo's family.
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It's sad to hear about accidents like this. Workplace safety should be everyone's priority, yet it seems no one is taking the necessary measures seriously. Let's hope something changes in the future to avoid further tragedies.