This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It will not be checked again for changes.

You can find the current article at its original source at http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/rss/-/1/hi/england/wear/7964916.stm

The article has changed 4 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.

Version 0 Version 1
Dreamspace artist to be sentenced Artist in sculpture tragedy fined
(about 13 hours later)
The creator of an inflatable artwork which blew away in a County Durham park killing two women will be sentenced later for health and safety breaches. The creator of an inflatable artwork which blew away in a County Durham park killing two women has been fined £10,000 for health and safety breaches.
Maurice Agis, 77, from London, was convicted at Newcastle Crown Court of breaches relating to the 1974 Act.Maurice Agis, 77, from London, was convicted at Newcastle Crown Court of breaches relating to the 1974 Act.
Two women, Elizabeth Collings and Claire Furmedge, fell from his Dreamspace sculpture in July 2006.Two women, Elizabeth Collings and Claire Furmedge, fell from his Dreamspace sculpture in July 2006.
Agis had been charged with manslaughter but the jury was discharged after failing to reach a verdict. After the hearing, relatives of the two dead women said they were shocked at the level of neglect by all concerned.
Claire Furmedge, 38, from Chester-le-Street and Elizabeth Collings, 68, from Seaham, died and 13 others were injured when the artwork broke free from its moorings at Riverside Park in Chester-le-Street. Agis had been charged with manslaughter, but the jury was discharged after failing to reach a verdict.
Claire Furmedge and Elizabeth Collings died at Riverside Park Maurice Agis denied all charges relating to the incident in July 2006
Brouhaha International, which organised the tour of Dreamspace, was fined £4,000 and Chester-Le-Street District council, which helped organise the event, was fined £20,000.
Agis was ordered to pay off the fine at £80 a month or face six months in prison.
Ms Furmedge, 38, from Chester-le-Street, and Ms Collings, 68, from Seaham, died and 13 others were injured when the artwork broke free from its moorings at Riverside Park in Chester-le-Street.
It then flipped over before crashing into a CCTV pole where it deflated.It then flipped over before crashing into a CCTV pole where it deflated.
The life of one victim, three-year-old Rosie Wright, was saved by passing anaesthetist Peter Evans.The life of one victim, three-year-old Rosie Wright, was saved by passing anaesthetist Peter Evans.
Mr Evans managed to stabilise the youngster, now five, who had suffered a punctured lung, internal bleeding, a lacerated liver and head injuries as well as breaking her ankle, thigh, collarbone, ribs and back. Passing sentence, Mrs Justice Cox said that no fine she imposed could compensate the families and those injured for their loss or distress.
Chester-le-Street District Council, which helped stage the event, and Brouhaha International Ltd, which put up and maintained Dreamspace, had earlier pleaded guilty to safety breaches and will be sentenced with him. But she added she had to take into account Agis's income - just his £125-a-week state pension - when imposing the fine.
In a letter to the families of the two women, Agis, of Kirton Gardens, Bethnal Green, wrote: "I am consumed by the tragedy of this event and by your suffering." Never, for one moment, have I ever thought that Dreamspace posed a risk to life Maurice Agis
The judge told Agis, who kept his head bowed throughout the sentencing hearing, that he had failed to properly design an anchorage system that would have prevented the tragedy happening.
She told him: "In my view you were more concerned with the visual impact and the public's interaction than the practicalities of holding it down."
Sally Moore, of Leigh Day & Co, read a statement from the relatives of the dead women, which said: "Anne and Claire were killed in the most appalling circumstances.
"Their deaths were caused by a catalogue of failure, complacency and incompetence on the part of Maurice Agis, Chester le Street District Council and Brouhaha International.
"The two families are relieved that this process is over, but extremely disappointed and angry that the artist was not convicted of gross negligence manslaughter charges.
"They feel that the decision by the Crown Prosecution Service not retry the case means that the criminal justice system has let them down."
'Truly sorry'
In a statement released after the hearing, Agis of Kirton Gardens, Bethnal Green, said: "The memories of that day fill me with a profound sadness.
"I continue to be consumed by the tragedy of those events, the suffering of those affected and the grief and pain that they must continue to feel.
"Never, for one moment, have I ever thought that Dreamspace posed a risk to life.
"I am truly sorry that my Dreamspace Artwork, designed to bring joy, pleasure and happiness into people's lives, could also be the source of such pain."
He also pledged that the artwork would never be displayed again.He also pledged that the artwork would never be displayed again.
Chester-le-Street Council, which admitted health and safety breaches, said it accepted the court's decision and offered its condolences to those who had died.