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Probe of factory death extended

Jan 12 2007

Chester Chronicle

 

POLICE have extended an igation into the horrific death of a man nearly two years ago in a factory explosion.

An inquest heard on Tuesday it will result in a second report going to the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) to again consider whether corporate manslaughter charges should be brought.

Father-of-two Mark Wright, 37, of Wrekin Way, Saltney, died from 90% burns and inhaling high temperature fire gasses at Deeside Metals, Saltney, on April 13, 2005, when aerosols he was crushing, ignited, creating a fire-ball that set him on fire.

Following his death grieving parents Dorothy and Douglas Wright, of Boughton Heath, Chester, campaigned for stronger legislation to prevent deaths in the workplace.

They went to Parliament and lobbied for amendments to a new bill, the Corporate Manslaughter Bill, on deaths in the workplace.

They believed the Bill was not strong enough to hold employers to account when employees died.

The Wrights want directors held legally and criminally responsible for the health and safety of their workforce, not simply the company which could only be fined.

North East Wales Coroner John Hughes opened a preliminary inquest hearing at Flint on Tuesday.

In May last year Mr Hughes was told the CPS had decided there was no case to bring manslaughter charges following the death of Mr Wright.

But in December Mr Hughes revealed he was told by police that following a meeting with the family, North Wales Police carried out a review of the police investigation.

That review, by a senior officer, concluded that a further eight witnesses should be interviewed.

'As a result of those interviews,will a further report go to the Crown Prosecution?' asked Mr Hughes.

'Yes, it is possible the matter will be re-referred to the CPS,' said Detective Inspector Vaughan.

Mr Hughes asked if interviewing eight further witnesses could lead to company directors also being interviewed and DI Vaughan agreed it was possible.

Mr Hughes said he understood the family were campaigning on 'wider issues' and he promised they would not be silenced from raising their concerns if they were relevant.

'I am concerned this matter has been going on for a long time. I am not being critical of the police.

'This is an intensely complicated matter,' said Mr Hughes.

But he warned: 'I am not going to try the civil issues in this case.'

Mr Hughes is calling a second preliminary hearing in 13 weeks, in April, by which time he hopes interviews will have been concludedand the CPS made a decision whether the additional interviews will lead to criminal charges.

 

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