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Fire officers cleared over Atherstone warehouse deaths Fire officers cleared over Atherstone warehouse deaths
(about 1 hour later)
Two senior fire officers have been found not guilty of the manslaughter of four colleagues who died tackling a blaze at a Warwickshire warehouse.Two senior fire officers have been found not guilty of the manslaughter of four colleagues who died tackling a blaze at a Warwickshire warehouse.
Incident commanders Timothy Woodward, 51, and Adrian Ashley, 45, were charged after the Atherstone-on-Stour fire.Incident commanders Timothy Woodward, 51, and Adrian Ashley, 45, were charged after the Atherstone-on-Stour fire.
Warwickshire's chief fire officer condemned the decision to press criminal charges against them.Warwickshire's chief fire officer condemned the decision to press criminal charges against them.
Firefighters John Averis, Ashley Stephens, Darren Yates-Badley and Ian Reid died as result of the 2007 blaze.Firefighters John Averis, Ashley Stephens, Darren Yates-Badley and Ian Reid died as result of the 2007 blaze.
Mr Woodward and Mr Ashley had denied manslaughter by gross negligence at Stafford Crown Court. All four firefighters, from Warwickshire, had entered the building wearing breathing apparatus after the fire had started.
Fire service officer Paul Simmons, 50, was acquitted five weeks into his trial on the judge's direction. 'Common criminals'
The jury took just over seven hours to acquit Mr Woodward, a station manager, and Mr Ashley, a watch manager, after hearing six weeks of evidence about the deaths of the four firefighters. The prosecution had alleged Mr Ashley and Mr Woodward, who were in charge of the operation, were criminally responsible for the "needless" deaths of the men.
Mr Ashley, a watch manager from Nuneaton, was accused of breaching his duty of care by risking the men's lives when "no other lives were at risk" in the blaze.
Mr Woodward, a station manager from Leamington Spa, was alleged to have breached his duty of care by not stopping the deployment of the men.
Both denied manslaughter by gross negligence.
Three of the men died in the fire while Mr Reid was rescued but died later in hospital.
Fire service officer Paul Simmons, 50, from Hampton Magna, was acquitted five weeks into the trial on the judge's direction at Stafford Crown Court.
Reading a statement outside court after the trial, Mr Woodward said it was the acquitted men's sincere wish that the dead men's families had had their questions answered and they could now move on with their lives.
'Sorrow and remembrance''Sorrow and remembrance'
The prosecution had alleged the men were criminally responsible for the "needless" deaths of the men. Graeme Smith, chief fire officer for Warwickshire, led criticism of the decision to prosecute and said Mr Ashley, Mr Simmons and Mr Woodward were "treated like common criminals".
Graeme Smith, chief fire officer for Warwickshire, who was in court for much of the trial, said Mr Ashley, Mr Simmons and Mr Woodward were "treated like common criminals".
He called for the Home Office and Ministry of Justice to investigate how and why the prosecution was allowed to proceed.He called for the Home Office and Ministry of Justice to investigate how and why the prosecution was allowed to proceed.
Mr Smith said: "It is crystal clear that these cases should never have been brought to court in the first place. Mr Smith said: "It is crystal clear that these cases should never have been brought to court in the first place."
"Today I feel a sense of relief that these three incident commanders, for them their ordeal is over but, I also feel deep sense of sorrow and remembrance for the four brave firefighters who died at Atherstone-on-Stour in 2007 and my thoughts are with their families." Defence solicitor Chris Humphries said there had been "systemic failings" at the fire service involving management, training and equipment but the decision to prosecute the three men was "misjudged and ill advised".
Lee Howell, president of the Chief Fire Officers Association (CFOA), said: "This is the best possible outcome for our profession as a whole and our thoughts remain with the families and friends of our fallen colleagues. He said the police should have made greater efforts to catch the arsonist and should have prosecuted the buildings owners.
"We remain keen to understand the rationale behind the decision to take this prosecution and we question the length of time it took to come to trial. The Fire Brigades Union (FBU) said it was absurd that the arsonists who started the fire had not faced trial while fire officers had.
"We would also seek to understand why the real culprits, according to the cause of fire investigation - the person or persons who intentionally set the fire in the first place - have not been apprehended."
Not enough evidenceNot enough evidence
Det Supt Ken Lawrence, of Warwickshire Police, who led the £4.6m investigation, said the investigation had been the "right thing" to do. However, Det Supt Ken Lawrence, of Warwickshire Police, who led the £4.6m investigation, said the investigation had been the "right thing" to do.
He said officers did not find enough evidence, such as forensic material or witness statements, to pursue an arson case against anybody.He said officers did not find enough evidence, such as forensic material or witness statements, to pursue an arson case against anybody.
He added: "I promised that we would do everything we could to determine how the four men - Ashley Stephens, Darren Yates-Badley, Ian Reid and John Averis - died and to find answers for their families and loved ones.He added: "I promised that we would do everything we could to determine how the four men - Ashley Stephens, Darren Yates-Badley, Ian Reid and John Averis - died and to find answers for their families and loved ones.
"I believe that we have done that.""I believe that we have done that."
Warwickshire Police Authority chairman Phil Robson said the police had a legal duty to investigate the incident as a crime.Warwickshire Police Authority chairman Phil Robson said the police had a legal duty to investigate the incident as a crime.
He said the main costs of the inquiry were incurred trying recover evidence from the scene.
He added: "I am satisfied that the investigation has been progressed as quickly as professionally as possible having regard to all the circumstances."
In January Warwickshire County Council, which is responsible for the county's fire service, pleaded guilty at Wolverhampton Crown Court to a health and safety charge relating to the blaze.In January Warwickshire County Council, which is responsible for the county's fire service, pleaded guilty at Wolverhampton Crown Court to a health and safety charge relating to the blaze.