E.coli probe shop set to reopen

The Llay fish bar owner's solicitor said there had been meticulous care and checks

The owner of a food outlet closed as part of an investigation into an E.coli outbreak has been given the all clear to resume trading.

Llay Fish Bar in Wrexham was shut five weeks ago after it was confirmed by the National Public Health Service for Wales as the outbreak's likely source.

Four people including a three-year-old girl, had the same strain of E.coli, after buying food from the premises.

Wrexham council said officers will continue to monitor the premises.

It said it had carried out an inspection of the chip shop after an application was made to reopen.

Andy Lewis, Chief Housing and Public Protection Officer, said: "Officers are satisfied that the proprietor has taken sufficient measures to ensure that the legal obligations with regard to food safety have been met."

The solicitor for the fish and chip shop's owner, Ramazan Aslan, said his client was planning to reopen the premises as "soon as conveniently possible".

But the husband of a woman left seriously ill by the outbreak said he was disappointed Mr Aslan's licence was being restored at this time.

Karen Morrisroe-Clutton, 32, who has a four-month-old son, was in intensive care after eating food from the takeaway and remains in isolation at Wrexham Maelor Hospital after being taken off a ventilator.

Her husband, Paul Clutton, said Mr Aslan "could have waited till Karen was better" before reopening his business.

But Mr Aslan's solicitor has said there was no scientific evidence to show that Mr Aslan's takeaway was responsible for the outbreak.

Karen Morrisroe-Clutton is in isolation in hospital after contracting E.coli

Pierre Bartlett said: "The only common factor in all this is that the people affected had bought food at the shop, but there's no evidence whatever that the E.coli has come from the fish bar.

"If you look at the food histories of the people affected the only common factor is that they had eaten at the Llay fish bar, but that doesn't mean the fish bar had E.coli.

"The premises have always been clean and well run. The business has been put through every conceivable, scientific and objective test and has passed, as we expected."

He said his client had been in the food business for 17 years.

He said Mr Aslan had voluntarily agreed to the prohibition order in order to co-operate fully with the authorities during the investigation.

Wrexham council's Mr Lewis said a report is being prepared by the authority "with a view to the institution of legal proceedings".