Court drops manslaughter charges

Gillian Beckingham denies all charges

The case against a council accused of the manslaughter of seven people who died in one of the UK's largest Legionnaires' outbreaks has collapsed.

A judge ordered a jury to find Barrow Borough Council not guilty of all charges at Preston Crown Court.

But local authority architect Gillian Beckingham, 47, of Cumbria, still faces seven charges of manslaughter.

The council has already admitted breaching Health and Safety legislation and will be sentenced after her trial.

Seven people died and a further 172 were left seriously ill in the outbreak in Barrow, Cumbria, in July and August 2002.

The outbreak was traced to the Forum 28 centre

The bug spread from the air conditioning system at the Forum 28 arts centre in the town, which spewed infected water into the atmosphere.

Just months earlier, Ms Beckingham allegedly cancelled the contract which ensured that the air conditioning system at Forum 28 was kept clean and safe.

Alistair Webster QC, prosecuting, said Ms Beckingham's failure to maintain the system "was simply courting disaster" and that she "was the prime cause of the tragedy which unfolded".

Ms Beckingham of Grange-over-Sands, Cumbria, denies the unlawful killing of Richard Macauley, 89, Wendy Milburn, 56, Georgina Somerville, 54, Harriet Low, 74, Elizabeth Dixon, 80, June Miles, 56 and Christine Merewood, 55.

She also denies breaching health and safety laws.

On Friday Mr Justice Poole instructed the jury to find the council, which owned the building, not guilty.

The trial was adjourned until 6 April when the case for Ms Beckingham's defence begins.