Atherstone Warehouse Prosecution Rumbles On

Following the high profile and controversial trial of three Warwickshire firefighters earlier this year, the case is set to pick up momentum once again as Warwickshire County Council faces a Trial of Issue (also known as a Newton Hearing) in December in connection with its failure to ensure the safety of employees whilst at work contrary to section 2(1) of the Health and Safety at Work Act 1974.

Tragic background

John Averis, Ashley Stephens, Darren Yates-Badley and Ian Reid died tackling a warehouse blaze at Atherstone Industrial Estate on 2 November 2007.

Prosecution of Warwickshire Fire Service Personnel

In a landmark case, the first prosecution of its type in the history of the Fire Service, Incident Commanders Adrian Ashley and Timothy Woodward, together with Watch Manager Paul Simmons, were all charged with four separate offences of Gross Negligence Manslaughter. The prosecution had alleged Mr Ashley and Mr Woodward, who were in charge of the operation,