Hearing begins into bug outbreak

The outbreak was traced to an air-conditioning unit at Forum 28

The second of two public hearings into a Legionnaires' disease outbreak which killed seven people in 2002 is being held in Barrow in Cumbria on Monday.

The source was traced to the town's Forum 28 centre and the borough council and an official were later fined for breaching Health and Safety rules.

The aim of the meeting is to identify lessons learned from the outbreak and prevent further tragedies.

The meeting is taking place at Abbey House, Abbey Road, at 0930 GMT.

The Health and Safety Executive will publish a report next year.

Although not a full public inquiry, the hearing will contribute to a final Health and Safety Executive (HSE) report on the tragedy.

Almost 200 people feel ill during the outbreak in August 2002.

Not guilty

Colin Pickthall, an Ulverston resident who was MP for West Lancashire between 1992 and 2005, will independently chair.

Mr Pickthall said: "I hope the hearing can help the people of Barrow gain a thorough understanding of the tragedy that struck the town in 2002, providing an opportunity to answer people's questions and to hear their concerns.

Barrow Borough Council pleaded guilty to a breach of the Health and Safety at Work Act, and was fined £125,000 at Preston Crown Court in July 2006.

Their employee Gillian Beckingham was convicted under Section 7 of the Act, and fined £15,000 on the same date.

Both the council and Mrs Beckingham were found not guilty of manslaughter.