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Gleision mine deaths: 'questions remain' after not-guilty verdicts Gleision mine deaths: 'questions remain' after not-guilty verdicts
(about 2 hours later)
The families of four miners who died in the worst British pit disaster in recent years have expressed their heartache and anger at the tragedy as the colliery manager and its owner were cleared of manslaughter.The families of four miners who died in the worst British pit disaster in recent years have expressed their heartache and anger at the tragedy as the colliery manager and its owner were cleared of manslaughter.
Malcolm Fyfield, who survived the torrent of water that claimed the lives of the four men at the Gleision mine near Pontardawe, south Wales, in 2011, was acquitted of manslaughter by gross negligence.Malcolm Fyfield, who survived the torrent of water that claimed the lives of the four men at the Gleision mine near Pontardawe, south Wales, in 2011, was acquitted of manslaughter by gross negligence.
MNS Mining, the firm that owned the old, cramped, pit in the Swansea valley, was found not guilty of corporate manslaughter.MNS Mining, the firm that owned the old, cramped, pit in the Swansea valley, was found not guilty of corporate manslaughter.
Philip Hill, 44, Charles Breslin, 62, David Powell, 50, and Garry Jenkins, 39, died in the tragedy, in September 2011, when 650,000 gallons of water – enough to fill an Olympic swimming pool – flooded the mine tunnels. Philip Hill, 44, Charles Breslin, 62, David Powell, 50, and Garry Jenkins, 39, died in the tragedy, in September 2011, when 3,000 cubic metres of water – enough to fill an Olympic swimming pool – flooded the mine tunnels.
The prosecution alleged that Fyfield ordered a coalface to be blasted with explosives when he had not adequately checked if there was a body of water in the old mine workings behind it. But he insisted he did make safety inspections of the area, including one on the day before the tragedy.The prosecution alleged that Fyfield ordered a coalface to be blasted with explosives when he had not adequately checked if there was a body of water in the old mine workings behind it. But he insisted he did make safety inspections of the area, including one on the day before the tragedy.
After a three-month multimillion pound trial, a jury took less than two hours to find Fyfield, 58, and the company not guilty of all charges.After a three-month multimillion pound trial, a jury took less than two hours to find Fyfield, 58, and the company not guilty of all charges.
Outside Swansea crown court, the families said the last two and a half years, and the day of the verdict on Thursday had been very difficult. In a statement they said: "Not a day has passed without us wishing they were still with us. The events will stay with us for the rest of our lives and the men will live in our hearts forever."Outside Swansea crown court, the families said the last two and a half years, and the day of the verdict on Thursday had been very difficult. In a statement they said: "Not a day has passed without us wishing they were still with us. The events will stay with us for the rest of our lives and the men will live in our hearts forever."
Some expressed anger. Lynette Powell, the wife of David Powell, said that she sometimes felt rage at what had happened. "I get angry that he has gone and left us all," she said.Some expressed anger. Lynette Powell, the wife of David Powell, said that she sometimes felt rage at what had happened. "I get angry that he has gone and left us all," she said.
Mavis Breslin, who was married to Charles Breslin, said: "I had concerns about this colliery. There were some concerns I can't put my finger on exactly." She said her husband had always been drawn back to the mines. "He got up early, went to work and never complained about it. I miss him very much – since Charles has died the house has become empty."Mavis Breslin, who was married to Charles Breslin, said: "I had concerns about this colliery. There were some concerns I can't put my finger on exactly." She said her husband had always been drawn back to the mines. "He got up early, went to work and never complained about it. I miss him very much – since Charles has died the house has become empty."
The MP for Neath, Peter Hain, who is close to the bereaved relatives, said the families still had questions they needed answering. "None of us will be able to forget that tragic September day. It had a terrible impact on our close-knit community, what happened in the mine was a devastating tragedy. I would like to pay tribute to the families who have conducted themselves with such dignity throughout what I am sure was a painful and harrowing process. There are no winners in this outcome, sadly the families are left with major questions unanswered, they deserve answers."The MP for Neath, Peter Hain, who is close to the bereaved relatives, said the families still had questions they needed answering. "None of us will be able to forget that tragic September day. It had a terrible impact on our close-knit community, what happened in the mine was a devastating tragedy. I would like to pay tribute to the families who have conducted themselves with such dignity throughout what I am sure was a painful and harrowing process. There are no winners in this outcome, sadly the families are left with major questions unanswered, they deserve answers."
Hain said the key question was why the miners were working in the area of the mine where the accident happened despite concerns having been raised about the presence of water there. He called on the Health and Safety Executive, which was responsible for inspecting the mine, to launch a new investigation.Hain said the key question was why the miners were working in the area of the mine where the accident happened despite concerns having been raised about the presence of water there. He called on the Health and Safety Executive, which was responsible for inspecting the mine, to launch a new investigation.
Fyfield, from Swansea, spent a week in intensive care in hospital after the tragedy and suffers from post-traumatic stress disorder. He broke down in tears and hugged his wife, Gillian, as he was cleared.Fyfield, from Swansea, spent a week in intensive care in hospital after the tragedy and suffers from post-traumatic stress disorder. He broke down in tears and hugged his wife, Gillian, as he was cleared.
Maria Nora Seage and her brother Gerald Ward, both MNS directors, also wept on hearing the acquittal.Maria Nora Seage and her brother Gerald Ward, both MNS directors, also wept on hearing the acquittal.
The Crown Prosecution Service and the police defended their decision to charge Fyfield and MNS.The Crown Prosecution Service and the police defended their decision to charge Fyfield and MNS.
A CPS spokesman said: "Questions needed to be answered about the management of the mine and it was right to ask a jury to determine the question of guilt or innocence."A CPS spokesman said: "Questions needed to be answered about the management of the mine and it was right to ask a jury to determine the question of guilt or innocence."
Detective Superintendent Dorian Lloyd, of the South Wales police specialist crime investigations team, said: "Our aim was to establish a full understanding of what happened in the mine – not only for the investigation but also for the families."Detective Superintendent Dorian Lloyd, of the South Wales police specialist crime investigations team, said: "Our aim was to establish a full understanding of what happened in the mine – not only for the investigation but also for the families."
Gleision was one of the last small-scale drift mines in south Wales. Some of the tunnels were lower than a kitchen work top and the miners had to crawl on hands and knees through them.Gleision was one of the last small-scale drift mines in south Wales. Some of the tunnels were lower than a kitchen work top and the miners had to crawl on hands and knees through them.
On the day of the accident, explosives were detonated with the intention of bringing down a coalface 275 metres from the entrance to break through into old workings, improving ventilation and prolonging the useful life of the old mine.On the day of the accident, explosives were detonated with the intention of bringing down a coalface 275 metres from the entrance to break through into old workings, improving ventilation and prolonging the useful life of the old mine.
The coalface was brought down but the blast caused 650,000 gallons of water to pour towards the men crouching in the gloom. Three of the miners managed to scramble or crawl away. Four were caught by the torrent of dark water and had no chance of escape. Postmortem examinations found their lungs and airways were blocked with water contaminated with coal and silt.The coalface was brought down but the blast caused 650,000 gallons of water to pour towards the men crouching in the gloom. Three of the miners managed to scramble or crawl away. Four were caught by the torrent of dark water and had no chance of escape. Postmortem examinations found their lungs and airways were blocked with water contaminated with coal and silt.
At the centre of the case was the crucial question of why Fyfield gave the order for the coalface to be blasted when thousands of gallons of water lay behind it.At the centre of the case was the crucial question of why Fyfield gave the order for the coalface to be blasted when thousands of gallons of water lay behind it.
Fyfield, who had come out of retirement to manage Gleision, claimed he had inspected behind the coalface on three occasions, the final time just the day before, and had found no water there.Fyfield, who had come out of retirement to manage Gleision, claimed he had inspected behind the coalface on three occasions, the final time just the day before, and had found no water there.
"There was no water other than some ponding … just a residual amount of water," he said during the trial. "There was not a substantial body of water. I am sure of that. I wanted to eliminate the possibility of any water being there. There was no water when I was there.""There was no water other than some ponding … just a residual amount of water," he said during the trial. "There was not a substantial body of water. I am sure of that. I wanted to eliminate the possibility of any water being there. There was no water when I was there."
He contended that water must have migrated into the area of the mine through the porous sandstone in the few hours after his last inspection.He contended that water must have migrated into the area of the mine through the porous sandstone in the few hours after his last inspection.
The prosecution argued that so much water could not have gathered so quickly. It claimed that Fyfield had been told repeatedly about the water that had collected in the old workings over almost 30 years but had ignored warnings.The prosecution argued that so much water could not have gathered so quickly. It claimed that Fyfield had been told repeatedly about the water that had collected in the old workings over almost 30 years but had ignored warnings.
Fyfield is not regarded as a cutter of corners in mining circles; he was described at one point as the Alex Ferguson of the small mines world. But there were problems with how the work was set up that day.Fyfield is not regarded as a cutter of corners in mining circles; he was described at one point as the Alex Ferguson of the small mines world. But there were problems with how the work was set up that day.
The regulations state that miners should have been 100 metres from the blast site. Three of them were less than 60 metres away. Questions have also been raised over why Fyfield did not formally apply to blast close to old workings, which are often filled with water. He argued that he did not need to as he had been able to inspect the area behind the face.The regulations state that miners should have been 100 metres from the blast site. Three of them were less than 60 metres away. Questions have also been raised over why Fyfield did not formally apply to blast close to old workings, which are often filled with water. He argued that he did not need to as he had been able to inspect the area behind the face.
Another issue was why the mine had not been visited for 16 months by the authorities when a check from that body should have taken place every year.Another issue was why the mine had not been visited for 16 months by the authorities when a check from that body should have taken place every year.
Tony Forster, the mines inspector for Gleision, said it was not always possible to visit the pit regularly as its operation tended to be a stop-start affair.Tony Forster, the mines inspector for Gleision, said it was not always possible to visit the pit regularly as its operation tended to be a stop-start affair.
Small mines such as Gleision tend to open and close as the price of coal rises and falls. If market conditions are not judged to be favourable, the pit is mothballed and the men laid off.Small mines such as Gleision tend to open and close as the price of coal rises and falls. If market conditions are not judged to be favourable, the pit is mothballed and the men laid off.
Fyfield's barrister, Elwen Evans QC, claimed investigators had become fixated within hours of the incident on the theory that the manager had recklessly ordered the blasting, even though it made no sense; why would he have put not only his colleagues but himself at risk? She insisted he could not have known the water was there.Fyfield's barrister, Elwen Evans QC, claimed investigators had become fixated within hours of the incident on the theory that the manager had recklessly ordered the blasting, even though it made no sense; why would he have put not only his colleagues but himself at risk? She insisted he could not have known the water was there.