The grieving families of four men who lost their lives in a devastating mining disaster have renewed calls for inquests to be held into the death of their loved ones to provide much needed answers to questions they have asked for more than a decade.
On September 15, 2011, following routine blasting in the Gleision Colliery near Cilybebyll, Pontardawe, thousands of gallons of water flooded into the tunnel where seven miners were working. Though three of the seven were able to escape to safety, four miners remained trapped. Despite efforts by the Mid and West Wales Fire Service and Mines Rescue, it was confirmed the following day that Charles Breslin, David Powell, Philip Hill, and Garry Jenkins had lost their lives.
Investigations followed and manslaughter charges were brought against both the site manager and MNS Mining Ltd., both were later found not guilty of all charges. Despite this, questions remain over the operation of the mine over several years and what caused the disaster. This was highlighted following a detailed independent investigation that identified a number of troubling issues not previously looked into. You can read more about the tragedy by clicking here.
Read more: Gleision Colliery mining disaster: Families relive tragedy 10 years on
A letter was presented to the coroner’s office for Swansea and Neath Port Talbot today (Thursday, April 21) on behalf of the families, mine owners and community representatives, who were joined by South Wales West MS Sioned Williams in a protest outside the office.
The renewed calls for a full inquest comes following new questions that have been raised in a report by a coal industry expert, who has suggested that years of alleged failures by the regulatory bodies (HSE and Coal Authority) to enforce the regulations may have resulted in operators illegally working coal and not recording it on the mine plans over a long period. A full public inquest was originally opened and adjourned in 2013. After the 2014 trial, the acting coroner for Swansea decided not to hold a full inquest into the four men’s deaths.
South Wales West MS, Sioned Williams, has backed calls for a full inquest into the 2011 Gleision Mining Disaster that claimed the lives of four mineworkers in the Swansea Valley.
She said: “It has been over ten years since the waters flooded the Gleision Colliery and four men tragically lost their lives. It is clear that the families who lost loved ones, those who have been investigating the circumstances of the Gleision Mining disaster, and community representatives feel strongly that the deaths of the four men who lost their lives need to be more fully investigated. I believe the Coroner needs to respect and acknowledge this strength of feeling by fulfilling their wishes.
“Valid and important new questions have been raised about what led up to, and what happened at the Gleision Colliery, questions that an inquest might consider in order to understand whether this was a preventable tragedy.
“The families in particular, and the wider community more generally, deserve answers to these questions, having suffered such a terrible loss. A full inquest is needed in order to finally bring closure to the families of the victims, all those linked to the mine, and to the whole community.”
