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/wales/7240006.stm

The article has changed 8 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.

Version 1 Version 2
E.coli outbreak inquiry to begin Tribute to boy at E.coli inquiry
(about 3 hours later)
A public inquiry into an E.coli outbreak in which a five-year-old boy died will start taking evidence later. A public inquiry into an E.coli outbreak which affected more than 150 people has opened with a minute's silence for a five-year-old who died.
More than 150 people, most of them schoolchildren, became ill in the 2005 outbreak in south Wales. Mason Jones, of Bargoed in Caerphilly county, died. Most of those who fell ill in 2005 in south Wales were children. Mason Jones, of Bargoed in Caerphilly county, died.
Butcher William Tudor, who supplied contaminated meat, was jailed in 2007. Butcher William Tudor, who supplied contaminated meat and was jailed last year, will not be compelled to give evidence, the hearing was told.
Inquiry chairman Professor Hugh Pennington said the truth would be sought and failings made clear. Chairman Hugh Pennington said the truth would be sought and failings clarified.
The E.coli 0157 strain outbreak affected 44 schools. It was the largest of its kind in Wales, the second biggest of its kind in the UK and the sixth largest worldwide. The E.coli O157 strain outbreak affected 44 schools. It was the largest of its kind in Wales, the second biggest of its kind in the UK and the sixth largest worldwide.
A police investigation into the outbreak shut down the Bridgend butcher's firm run by Tudor, which supplied the schools in the outbreak.A police investigation into the outbreak shut down the Bridgend butcher's firm run by Tudor, which supplied the schools in the outbreak.
I can promise, as we were charged by the assembly, to really look at the facts, to really burrow into all the details, and find out exactly what happened and what went wrong Prof Hugh Pennington, inquiry chairman I know that I've got to be strong enough, to get justice for Mason or some sort of justice Sharon Mills
Last September, Cardiff Crown Court heard that a vacuum-packing machine which was "wrongly used" for both raw and cooked meats was the source of the contaminated meat.Last September, Cardiff Crown Court heard that a vacuum-packing machine which was "wrongly used" for both raw and cooked meats was the source of the contaminated meat.
Tudor, 54, from Cowbridge, Vale of Glamorgan, was jailed for a year after he admitted six food safety charges.Tudor, 54, from Cowbridge, Vale of Glamorgan, was jailed for a year after he admitted six food safety charges.
However, questions remain over how the bacteria was able to spread and reach 44 different schools.However, questions remain over how the bacteria was able to spread and reach 44 different schools.
The inquiry, set up by the Welsh assembly and to be held at Crickhowell House, Cardiff Bay, is expected to hold six weeks of oral hearings. The inquiry, set up by the Welsh assembly and which is being held at Crickhowell House, Cardiff Bay, is expected to hold six weeks of oral hearings.
'Difficult' for mother In his opening statement, senior counsel to the inquiry James Eadie QC said the only factor connecting all the schools in the outbreak was meat from Tudor's Bridgend-based butcher company, John Tudor & Son.
Issues it is investigating include the source of the outbreak, the inspection of food businesses, the procurement of school meals, and the way the outbreak was managed. He said: "The common feature linking these cases was the supply of cooked sliced meat from Tudor's.
Prof Pennington, a microbiologist who investigated a previous E.coli outbreak in Lanarkshire in 1996, said: "I can promise, as we were charged by the assembly, to really look at the facts, to really burrow into all the details, and find out exactly what happened and what went wrong. "Accordingly, there is a single common strand linking all cases.
Prof Hugh Pennington is the inquiry's chairman
"The pattern of cases involved in the outbreak is connected - and it appears connected only - with cold sliced meat being the contaminant source."
Explaining that the butcher would not have to appear at the hearing, Mr Eadie said the inquiry would be able to base its findings on police statements and other evidence already gathered.
Issues the inquiry is investigating include the source of the outbreak, the inspection of food businesses, the procurement of school meals, and the way the outbreak was managed.
Prof Pennington, a microbiologist who investigated a previous E.coli outbreak in Lanarkshire in 1996, said before the hearing began: "I can promise, as we were charged by the assembly, to really look at the facts, to really burrow into all the details, and find out exactly what happened and what went wrong.
"If mistakes have been made, we will have to point those out so that we don't make those sort of mistakes again.""If mistakes have been made, we will have to point those out so that we don't make those sort of mistakes again."
Mason Jones's mother, Sharon Mills, said she was confident the inquiry would reveal the truth of what happened. Mason Jones's mother, Sharon Mills, said beforehand she was confident the inquiry would reveal the truth of what happened and said she planned to be at the hearing every day.
Earlier, she led parents of children affected by the outbreak into Crickhowell House
She said: "It will be difficult. Two-and-a-half years on, it's still upsetting to talk about what happened to Mason but I'm strong enough, and I know that I've got to be strong enough, to get justice for Mason or some sort of justice.She said: "It will be difficult. Two-and-a-half years on, it's still upsetting to talk about what happened to Mason but I'm strong enough, and I know that I've got to be strong enough, to get justice for Mason or some sort of justice.
"So I'm prepared to listen to all that's got to come out down there.""So I'm prepared to listen to all that's got to come out down there."
The inquiry continues.