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Tribute to boy at E.coli inquiry E.coli inquiry told of dead flies
(about 3 hours 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. Dead flies, woodlice and insects were found at a butcher which supplied meat that led to an E.coli outbreak, a public inquiry has been told.
Most of those who fell ill in 2005 in south Wales were children. Mason Jones, of Bargoed in Caerphilly county, died. But previous environmental health inspections did not consider the failings enough to shut the company down, the inquiry's first day heard.
Butcher William Tudor, who supplied contaminated meat and was jailed last year will not be compelled to give evidence, the hearing was told. More than 150 children and adults fell ill and a five-year-old died in 2005.
Chairman Hugh Pennington said the truth would be sought and failings clarified. Inquiry chairman Hugh Pennington has said the truth would be sought and failings made clear.
At the start of the hearing in Cardiff Bay a minute's silence was held for Mason Jones, the boy from Bargoed, Caerphilly county who died.
Butcher William Tudor, from Cowbridge, Vale of Glamorgan who was jailed for supplying the meat in September, will not be compelled to give evidence, the hearing was told.
I know that I've got to be strong enough, to get justice for Mason or some sort of justice Sharon Mills
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.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 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.
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 which is being held at Crickhowell House, Cardiff Bay, is expected to hold six weeks of oral hearings.
In his opening statement, senior counsel to the inquiry James Eadie QC said the only factor connecting all the schools in the outbreak was cold sliced meat from Tudor's Bridgend-based butcher company, John Tudor & Son.In his opening statement, senior counsel to the inquiry James Eadie QC said the only factor connecting all the schools in the outbreak was cold sliced meat from Tudor's Bridgend-based butcher company, John Tudor & Son.
Prof Hugh Pennington is the inquiry's chairman
Explaining that the butcher would not have to appear at the hearing, Mr Eadie said Tudor had rejected repeated invitations to provide the inquiry with a statement.Explaining that the butcher would not have to appear at the hearing, Mr Eadie said Tudor had rejected repeated invitations to provide the inquiry with a statement.
"That is his choice," Mr Eadie said."That is his choice," Mr Eadie said.
He added that the inquiry had decided not to use its power to call him to give evidence.He added that the inquiry had decided not to use its power to call him to give evidence.
Prof Hugh Pennington is the inquiry's chairman
"There is evidence from experts, evidence from employees and others gathered at the time by the police."There is evidence from experts, evidence from employees and others gathered at the time by the police.
"Moreover, by his guilty plea, he has accepted at least the central thrust of the case the local authorities made against him.""Moreover, by his guilty plea, he has accepted at least the central thrust of the case the local authorities made against him."
As well as the dead insects at the butchers' plant, the inquiry was told there was also congealed dirt found around machinery used for slicing and packing food.
Other issues the inquiry is investigating include the inspection of food businesses and the way the outbreak was managed.Other issues the inquiry is investigating include the inspection of food businesses 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: "If mistakes have been made, we will have to point those out so that we don't make those sort of mistakes again." Prof Pennington, a microbiologist who investigated a previous E.coli outbreak in Scotland in 1996, said before the hearing began: "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 beforehand she was confident the inquiry would reveal the truth of what happened and said she planned to be at the hearing every day. Mason's mother, Sharon Mills, said she was confident the inquiry would reveal the truth of what happened.
Earlier, she led parents of children affected by the outbreak into Crickhowell HouseEarlier, 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."
The inquiry continues. The inquiry which is being held at Crickhowell House, Cardiff Bay, is expected to hold six weeks of oral hearings.