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| Gleision: Malcolm Fyfield and MNS Mining not guilty | Gleision: Malcolm Fyfield and MNS Mining not guilty |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| The manager and owners of a Swansea Valley mine where four miners died have been cleared of manslaughter. | The manager and owners of a Swansea Valley mine where four miners died have been cleared of manslaughter. |
| Charles Breslin, 62, David Powell, 50, Philip Hill, 44, and Garry Jenkins, 39, drowned in 2011 when 650,000 gallons of water flooded the Gleision drift mine following a controlled explosion. | Charles Breslin, 62, David Powell, 50, Philip Hill, 44, and Garry Jenkins, 39, drowned in 2011 when 650,000 gallons of water flooded the Gleision drift mine following a controlled explosion. |
| Manager Malcolm Fyfield, 58, and mine owners MNS Mining had denied manslaughter through gross negligence. | Manager Malcolm Fyfield, 58, and mine owners MNS Mining had denied manslaughter through gross negligence. |
| The jury took just an hour to reach their decision. | The jury took just an hour to reach their decision. |
| Mr Fyfield, who has suffered severe post traumatic stress disorder since surviving the incident, broke down in tears as the not guilty verdicts were read out at Swansea Crown Court. | |
| Key to the three-month case was whether Mr Fyfield inspected the mine as he said he did. | Key to the three-month case was whether Mr Fyfield inspected the mine as he said he did. |
| The former mine manager was working underground with the men when water tore into the pit after they blasted into old coal workings, near Pontardawe. | The former mine manager was working underground with the men when water tore into the pit after they blasted into old coal workings, near Pontardawe. |
| Mr Fyfield, 58, who had come out of retirement to run the mine and who had a "sky-high reputation", had been given orders to connect two parts of the pit to improve ventilation. | Mr Fyfield, 58, who had come out of retirement to run the mine and who had a "sky-high reputation", had been given orders to connect two parts of the pit to improve ventilation. |
| The case came down to key points: | The case came down to key points: |
| A statement from the families of the men who died was read out on the court steps following the verdicts. | A statement from the families of the men who died was read out on the court steps following the verdicts. |
| It said: "Today has been a difficult day for us all, as have the last two-and-a-half years since we lost our loved ones at the Gleision mine. | It said: "Today has been a difficult day for us all, as have the last two-and-a-half years since we lost our loved ones at the Gleision mine. |
| "We miss Gary, Philip, Charles and David dearly. Not a day has passed without wishing they were still with us. | "We miss Gary, Philip, Charles and David dearly. Not a day has passed without wishing they were still with us. |
| "The events of September 15, 2011 will stay with us for the rest of our lives." | "The events of September 15, 2011 will stay with us for the rest of our lives." |
| They thanked those who helped with the rescue efforts and said they were grateful for the "overwhelming support" they had received from the community. | They thanked those who helped with the rescue efforts and said they were grateful for the "overwhelming support" they had received from the community. |
| Detective Superintendent Dorian Lloyd, of South Wales Police, thanked the families for their "unwavering patience and support" of the investigation team. | Detective Superintendent Dorian Lloyd, of South Wales Police, thanked the families for their "unwavering patience and support" of the investigation team. |
| "From the outset our aim was to establish a full understanding of what happened in the mine not only for the investigation but also for the families," he said. | "From the outset our aim was to establish a full understanding of what happened in the mine not only for the investigation but also for the families," he said. |
| "They have conducted themselves with tremendous courage and dignity throughout." | "They have conducted themselves with tremendous courage and dignity throughout." |
| Neath MP Peter Hain said no-one would forget the "devastating tragedy" and paid tribute to the families, who he said had conducted themselves with dignity through a "painful and harrowing process". | |
| "There are no winners in this outcome, sadly the families are left with major questions unanswered, they deserve answers," he said. |