Health and Safety bosses have warned people in the Shropshire area to be aware of potentially unsafe gas installations after two brothers in charge of a county fire firm were jailed.
Work carried out by Lee and Stephen McHugh of Embers Fires, based in Abbey Foregate, Shrewsbury, was undertaken in hundreds of homes.
They were jailed yesterday for falsely claiming to be Corgi registered.
The brothers, from the Wirral, Merseyside, were sentenced to 12 months in prison at Shrewsbury Crown Court yesterday.
They were sentenced for breach of Prohibition Notices, for their part in the poor installation of gas appliances, which, the court heard, posed a serious risk to occupants and property.
The Health and Safety Executive contacted more than 200 households to determine which appliances supplied by Lee McHugh had been fitted by Stephen McHugh. In one instance, Lee McHugh had also taken part in the installation work.
Speaking after the case HSE investigating inspector Lindsay Hope said: “HSE is very pleased that the McHugh brothers have finally been brought to justice for their dangerous and illegal behaviour.
“The 10 specific instances brought to the attention of the court, citing installations in Shrewsbury, Church Stretton, Little Stretton, Newport, Pontesbury and Monkmoor, were not isolated; the malpractice was ongoing over a very long period.
“HSE had served Prohibition Notices on both brothers but they continued to flout safety legislation. Stephen McHugh was carrying out gas work knowing that he was not registered with Corgi.
He chose to ignore this and continued to carry out work, putting the public at risk from both carbon monoxide poisoning and gas explosion.
“We would urge anyone who thinks that they may have a gas appliance installed by Stephen McHugh and probably purchased through Lee McHugh’s shop Embers Fires in Abbey Foregate, Shrewsbury, to urgently have the installation checked by a bona fide registered installer.”
By Rhea Parsons
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