Council worker found not guilty of manslaughter in Legionnaires’ Disease case

The architect with Barrow Borough Council charged with seven cases of manslaughter following an outbreak of Legionnaires’ Disease in Barrow in 2002 has been found not guilty. However, Gillian Beckingham was found guilty of breaches of health-and-safety laws and fined £15 000. Her employer was fined £125 000. The outbreak became the worst in the UK, with over 170 people eventually affected and at least five dying — including one man on the first day of the 8-week trial at Preston Crown Court. The cause of the outbreak was a cooling tower serving air-conditioning in the Forum 28 civic centre. The tower was in a covered plant room with grilles on each side. One side was open to a well frequented walkway to the town square. The case hinged on Gillian Beckingham cancelling a contract to carry out tests on the cooling tower. She was on holiday when another contract to maintain the system was agreed, but its terms led to dispute over who was responsible for cleaning and maintaining the system. She also told the court that she had received no training in health and safety.