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Pub Christmas dinner death: Chef and manager jailed | Pub Christmas dinner death: Chef and manager jailed |
(about 23 hours later) | |
A pub chef and manager have been jailed after a woman who ate a Christmas meal they served died from food poisoning. | A pub chef and manager have been jailed after a woman who ate a Christmas meal they served died from food poisoning. |
Della Callagher, 46, died after eating at the Railway Hotel in Hornchurch, east London in December 2012. | Della Callagher, 46, died after eating at the Railway Hotel in Hornchurch, east London in December 2012. |
Chef Mehmet Kaya and Ann-Marie McSweeney were found guilty of perverting the course of justice and jailed at Snaresbrook Crown Court for 12 and 18 months respectively. | Chef Mehmet Kaya and Ann-Marie McSweeney were found guilty of perverting the course of justice and jailed at Snaresbrook Crown Court for 12 and 18 months respectively. |
They had fabricated food safety records relating to the cooking of turkey meat. | They had fabricated food safety records relating to the cooking of turkey meat. |
Mitchells and Butlers (M&B), the chain which owned the pub, was fined £1.5m for placing unsafe food on the market. | Mitchells and Butlers (M&B), the chain which owned the pub, was fined £1.5m for placing unsafe food on the market. |
The court heard that on Christmas Day 2012 the pub served lunch to 128 customers. Thirty-three of them suffered food poisoning. | The court heard that on Christmas Day 2012 the pub served lunch to 128 customers. Thirty-three of them suffered food poisoning. |
But the turkeys prepared the day before were not cooled properly after cooking and not adequately reheated before being served to the guests. | But the turkeys prepared the day before were not cooled properly after cooking and not adequately reheated before being served to the guests. |
Clostridium perfringens bacterium, a common cause of food poisoning, was later found in samples taken from the diners who fell ill. | Clostridium perfringens bacterium, a common cause of food poisoning, was later found in samples taken from the diners who fell ill. |
'Manifestly inadequate' | 'Manifestly inadequate' |
The court was told food safety records had not been filled in so McSweeney, who had worked at the hotel for 24 years, concocted a plan for her and Kaya to falsify them. | The court was told food safety records had not been filled in so McSweeney, who had worked at the hotel for 24 years, concocted a plan for her and Kaya to falsify them. |
The jury heard Kaya, 38, from Purfleet, Essex and McSweeney, 40, from Suttons Avenue, Hornchurch, retrospectively filled in due diligence logs before health inspectors could carry out an investigation. | |
Prosecutor Andrew Campbell-Tiech QC said it was "highly likely that other food-related records were fabricated". | Prosecutor Andrew Campbell-Tiech QC said it was "highly likely that other food-related records were fabricated". |
His Honour Judge Alastair Hammerton said the evidence revealed "systematic failings" in record keeping and that McSweeney was "in charge and in control of the cover-up". | His Honour Judge Alastair Hammerton said the evidence revealed "systematic failings" in record keeping and that McSweeney was "in charge and in control of the cover-up". |
Judge Hammerton said M&B took "manifestly inadequate steps" to address the risks of inadequate cooking, cooling and reheating of turkey. | Judge Hammerton said M&B took "manifestly inadequate steps" to address the risks of inadequate cooking, cooling and reheating of turkey. |
New cooking instructions were not adequately passed on to staff, and the company fell "significantly short" of appropriate standards. | New cooking instructions were not adequately passed on to staff, and the company fell "significantly short" of appropriate standards. |
Following the sentencing Mrs Callagher's husband, John, said: "All three defendants appear to have little or no idea what long term damage their actions and in some cases their lies have done. | Following the sentencing Mrs Callagher's husband, John, said: "All three defendants appear to have little or no idea what long term damage their actions and in some cases their lies have done. |
"My daughter will now grow up without her mother by her side and that is unforgivable. Della can never be replaced" | "My daughter will now grow up without her mother by her side and that is unforgivable. Della can never be replaced" |
Kaya and McSweeney were acquitted of a charge of placing unsafe food on the market. | Kaya and McSweeney were acquitted of a charge of placing unsafe food on the market. |