Gleision colliery deaths: boss and owners charged (From South Wales Guardian)

Gleision colliery deaths: boss and owners charged

6:00am Thursday 24th January 2013 in News

THE manager of the Gleision Colliery where four mineworkers died in September 2011 has been charged with manslaughter and gross negligence.

MNS Mining, the company that owns the colliery, has also been charged with four counts of corporate manslaughter.

Phillip Hill, aged 44, Charles Breslin, 62, David Powell, 50, and Garry Jenkins, 39, all died after they were trapped in the flooded mine at Cilybebyll in the Swansea Valley.

Mine manager Malcolm Fyfield, 57, spent months recovering in hospital after escaping the disaster.

Fyfield and company representatives are due to appear at Neath Magistrates’ Court on February 1.

Detective chief inspector Dorian Lloyd of South Wales Police’s specialist crime investigations team said 40 officers had examined 300 statements and 450 exhibits as part of an extensive investigation, working alongside staff from the Health and Safety Executive.

“Upon completion of the investigation and following consultation with the Crown Prosecution Service, the mine manager, Malcom Fyfield has been charged with gross negligence manslaughter,” said DCI Lloyd.

“In addition, a prosecution for four offences of corporate manslaughter against the owners of the mine, MNS Mining Ltd, is proceeding.”