Stockline Owners to be prosecuted

17/02/06

Patrick McGuire Partner with Thompsons Scotland has welcomed the Crown Office announcement that officials said ICL Plastics would face action at the High Court over alleged breaches of health and safety law.
A Crown Office spokesman said survivors and families of victims had been informed. As yet, no date has been set for the trial.
Five men and four women were killed and about 40 people injured in the blast in Maryhill on 11 May, 2004.
The Crown Office said the decision to prosecute ICL Plastics and ICL Tech under the Health and Safety at Work Act followed the submission of a report conducted by the procurator fiscal in Glasgow, Strathclyde Police and the Health and Safety Executive.
A spokesman said: "A detailed initial report of the investigation was submitted to Crown Counsel in May 2005.
"Crown Counsel subsequently instructed a number of further, specific investigations before reaching the decision to prosecute."
The company has been accused of:
 Failing to maintain pipes carrying hazardous gas or gases
 A failure to ensure the safety of staff
 Failing to carry out "suitable and sufficient" risk assessment.

Ian Tasker on behalf of the STUC echoed the comments of Patrick McGuire and said "Certain things might come out that will mean health and safety standards will be raised throughout Scottish, Welsh, English and Irish workplaces.
"The families feel that would be an appropriate way to help them go forward, knowing that the deaths of their loved ones had not been totally in vain."
Rosemary Doyle, whose daughter Annette died, said she still asks why her daughter was killed and what can be done to stop a future tragedy.
She said: "It is very upsetting because I think when nine people die at their work, along with the people with the horrific injuries, it should be automatic.
"You shouldn't have to fight for a public inquiry - they were at their work."

The Crown office added: "Survivors, next of kin, and others directly affected by the explosion have been informed of this decision, and will continue to be kept informed by the procurator fiscal."
The four-storey building in Grovepark Road was destroyed by the blast shortly after 1200 BST on Tuesday, 11 May.
A major emergency was declared and rescuers worked tirelessly to free victims trapped in the rubble. It was four days before the last body was removed. The victims were Margaret Brownlie age 49 from Strathaven Annette Doyle age 34 from Glasgow, Peter Ferguson age 52 from Kilbarchan, Thomas McAulay age 41 from Mount Florida in Glasgow, Stewart McColl age 60 from West Kilbride, Tracey McErlane age 27 from Possilpark in Glasgow, Kenneth Murray age 45 in Paisley, Timothy Smith age 31 from Johnstone and Ann Trench age 34 from Colston on Glasgow

Daily Record
Scotsman



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