Health & Safety: Notable case

Following the Hatfield Rail Crash (October 2000) two companies and five individuals were prosecuted for manslaughter, with a further five prosecuted for health and safety offences alone.

At the manslaughter trial, Anthony Glass QC defended the Balfour Beattie Regional Director, Adrian Darbishire defended a senior Network Rail manager. Both were acquitted of manslaughter on the direction of the judge at the close of the prosecution case, and were acquitted of all other charges by the jury.

In the related proceedings, Selva Ramasamy and Sean Larkin each defended Balfour Beatty employees, who were ultimately acquitted after the prosecution offered no evidence against them.