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| Poison coroner slams government | Poison coroner slams government |
| (about 2 hours later) | |
| A coroner has criticised the government after he was forced to adjourn an inquest involving a major water poisoning incident. | A coroner has criticised the government after he was forced to adjourn an inquest involving a major water poisoning incident. |
| Twenty tonnes of aluminium sulphate were dumped into the wrong tank at Lowermoor water treatment works in Camelford, Cornwall, in 1988. | Twenty tonnes of aluminium sulphate were dumped into the wrong tank at Lowermoor water treatment works in Camelford, Cornwall, in 1988. |
| When Carole Cross died large amounts of aluminium were found in her brain. | When Carole Cross died large amounts of aluminium were found in her brain. |
| West Somerset coroner Michael Rose, who wants further tests, has criticised the government's lack of assistance. | West Somerset coroner Michael Rose, who wants further tests, has criticised the government's lack of assistance. |
| In a statement, he said he had been forced to turn to Somerset County Council to pay for an expert investigation into the link because the government refused "to either finance of assist in such research". | |
| 'Considerable reluctance' | 'Considerable reluctance' |
| An independent inquiry report, published in January 2005, said it was unlikely the chemicals involved in the Camelford incident would have caused any persistent or delayed health effects. | An independent inquiry report, published in January 2005, said it was unlikely the chemicals involved in the Camelford incident would have caused any persistent or delayed health effects. |
| But sampling on 58-year-old Mrs Cross, who died in 2004, showed "abnormally high" levels of aluminium in her brain. She had suffered from a neurological disease. | But sampling on 58-year-old Mrs Cross, who died in 2004, showed "abnormally high" levels of aluminium in her brain. She had suffered from a neurological disease. |
| Her husband, environmental scientist Doug Cross, had been investigating the medical effects of the poisoning. | Her husband, environmental scientist Doug Cross, had been investigating the medical effects of the poisoning. |
| The couple, who were Camelford residents, moved to Dulverton in Somerset two years after the incident. | The couple, who were Camelford residents, moved to Dulverton in Somerset two years after the incident. |
| The inquest into the death of Mrs Cross was due to be held in November in Taunton, but Mr Rose has now adjourned it "with considerable reluctance" so further tests can take place. | The inquest into the death of Mrs Cross was due to be held in November in Taunton, but Mr Rose has now adjourned it "with considerable reluctance" so further tests can take place. |
| He said: "The adjournment will also assist me in tracing the whereabouts of a further six of the 22 witnesses who it is felt could give evidence that would assist a jury in establishing the facts of the 1988 incident." | He said: "The adjournment will also assist me in tracing the whereabouts of a further six of the 22 witnesses who it is felt could give evidence that would assist a jury in establishing the facts of the 1988 incident." |
| A second inquest into the death of 91-year-old Irene Neal will go ahead as planned, the coroner confirmed. | A second inquest into the death of 91-year-old Irene Neal will go ahead as planned, the coroner confirmed. |
| Witness search | Witness search |
| Mrs Neal, whose home in Rock, north Cornwall, was served by the Camelford water system, died in a nursing home in Buckfastleigh, Devon, in June last year. | Mrs Neal, whose home in Rock, north Cornwall, was served by the Camelford water system, died in a nursing home in Buckfastleigh, Devon, in June last year. |
| Post-mortem tests also revealed high levels of aluminium. | Post-mortem tests also revealed high levels of aluminium. |
| Last year the coroner asked the Chief Constable Stephen Otter of Devon and Cornwall Police to appoint a senior detective to look into allegations of what he called a "cover-up". | Last year the coroner asked the Chief Constable Stephen Otter of Devon and Cornwall Police to appoint a senior detective to look into allegations of what he called a "cover-up". |
| Victims of the Lowermoor blunder, who suffered vomiting, mouth ulcers and rashes, have been demanding a full investigation for two decades. | Victims of the Lowermoor blunder, who suffered vomiting, mouth ulcers and rashes, have been demanding a full investigation for two decades. |
| After a trial at Exeter Crown Court in 1991, the South West Water Authority was fined £10,000 with £25,000 costs for supplying water likely to endanger public health. | After a trial at Exeter Crown Court in 1991, the South West Water Authority was fined £10,000 with £25,000 costs for supplying water likely to endanger public health. |
| Three years later, 148 victims of the incident reached an out of court settlement, with payments ranging from £680 to £10,000. | Three years later, 148 victims of the incident reached an out of court settlement, with payments ranging from £680 to £10,000. |