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Glasgow factory inquiry
05/12/2007
Lord Advocate Elish Angiolini QC and Secretary of State for Work and Pensions Peter Hain today announced the chair and terms of reference for the public inquiry into the tragic plastics factory explosion and building collapse which occurred in Glasgow on May 11, 2004.
Lord Gill, the Lord Justice Clerk, has been appointed Chairman. The inquiry is to be heard under the UK Inquiries Act 2005. Roy Martin QC has also been appointed as counsel to the Inquiry.
The terms of reference are:
- To inquire into the circumstances leading up to the incident on May 11, 2004 at the premises occupied by the ICL group of companies, Grovepark Mills, Maryhill, Glasgow
- To consider the safety and related issues arising from such an inquiry, including the regulation of the activities at Grovepark Mills
- To make recommendations in the light of the lessons identified from the causation and circumstances leading up to the incident
- To report as soon as practicable
The Lord Advocate said:
"The events of the May 11, 2004 have a continuing impact on the lives of many people, on all those who were working in the factory that day, on the dozens of people who were injured, and especially on those who lost a loved one.
"This public inquiry will provide an opportunity, not only to fully air the circumstances which led up to that incident, but also to make sure that lessons are learned to help prevent another tragedy like this occurring."
Mr Hain said:
"I am pleased Lord Gill has agreed to Chair the inquiry into the tragic and terrible events in Glasgow. Now that we have a chair in place, and an agreement on the terms of reference, we can ensure that the inquiry will be focussed on the events, and the families will not have to wait unduly for answers."
The Lord Advocate today wrote to the Presiding Officer of the Scottish Parliament advising him of the remit of the inquiry and the appointment of Lord Gill as the Chair. The letter has been lodged with SPiCE. Peter Hain MP also lodged the details of the remit with Westminster.
The decision to hold a joint public inquiry was announced on October 1, 2007.
On May 11, 2004 there was an explosion at a plastics factory operated by ICL Plastics Ltd and ICL Tech Ltd in Maryhill, Glasgow. As a result nine people died and 33 were injured.
The Health and Safety Executive and the police, working closely with staff from the Glasgow Procurator Fiscal's Office, began a painstaking investigation into the circumstances surrounding the tragedy. As a result both ICL Plastics Ltd and ICL Tech Ltd were prosecuted for various health and safety breaches over a number of years.
On August 17, 2007 both companies pled guilty to all charges and were subsequently fined £200,000 each on August 28.
The Lord Advocate has sole jurisdiction for the investigation of deaths in Scotland. Following the conclusion of criminal proceedings she considered the form and remit of the inquiry, and in particular whether the issues could be properly addressed at a Fatal Accident Inquiry or another form of public inquiry.