County Durham mum speaks out over son's death

Apr 12 2009 by Neil McKay, Sunday Sun

A MOTHER whose son was engulfed in a fireball in a workplace accident is taking her fight for justice to the House of Commons.

Linda Whelan’s son Craig was killed while trying to demolish a chimney seven years ago, and now the North mum is battling to save other families from going through the same heartache.

Linda, 53, from Willington, near Crook, County Durham, became a founder member of FACK – Families Against Corporate Killing – after she encountered a wall of silence and endless red tape as she sought explanations for the death of her son in May 2002.

And she will voice her fears and demands over work place safety when she gives a speech at Westminster later this month.

Linda said: “It is too late to save my son, but if I can work towards preventing just one family from going through the same heartache as I and his brothers did then maybe I am doing something worthwhile.”

Craig, 23, left Willington to work for a company in Nottingham which won a tender to demolish a chimney at Carnaud Metal Box Factory in Bolton, Greater Manchester, after his company offered to do it the work for £8000.

Other companies believed the chimney could only be taken down using special “cold cutting” gear from outside the structure, a job which would cost £20,000 to £30,000.

An email had been sent to two company managers of Carnaud Metal Box, warning of flammable chemicals which could have been on the inside of the chimney, advising them to take the structure down using cold cutting gear.

But Craig and a colleague Paul Wakefield were sent inside the chimney with hot cutting gear.

Linda said: “A hot work permit was signed and they were sent back into the chimney still using hot cutting gear.

“They did not have a chance, there was an explosion and Craig and Paul were engulfed in a fireball.

“My son and Paul were condemned to die.”

In June 2004 Ian Billington, Technical Site Manager, John Kither, Manufacturing Engineering Manager and Colin Stevens, Project Manager, were acquitted of manslaughter at Preston Crown Court.

They were, however, fined a total of £17,000 after pleading guilty to health and safety offences.

On Tuesday April 28 it is Workers Memorial Day and Linda is due to speak in the House of Commons on workplace safety,.

Earlier in the day FACK members will march from Tower Hill, London, from the Statue of the Unknown Construction Worker, to Westminster via the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) offices.

Linda said: “I cannot bring Craig back but by speaking out about what happened then maybe this can protect someone else’s loved ones.

“FACK is a group of families who have lost loved ones and want to see an end to employers who put money before lives and the safety of their employees.

“It wants justice for families of people killed at work or by work. We want to stop deaths caused by work.”

For more information log onto www.fack.org.uk.