Shrewsbury explosion victims' fury over report

Families and friends of victims of the Shrewsbury explosion today said they were "shocked" and "disgusted" that no-one will be held responsible for the blast.

And relatives of the victims are today seeking legal advice with a view to making civil claims for compensation.

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The Health and Safety Executive's report of its probe into the explosion at 1-5 Bridge Street on January 3 last year was released yesterday and revealed no evidence of any breach of relevant safety legislation.

The incident left 12 people injured, five seriously including panto star Kiley McDonnell, flatmates Scott Godbold, Sarah Pearse and Sam Devine-Turner and their friend Annie Davies.

Mr McDonnell, who lives in London, has been told he will never walk again.

Today Steve Godbold, father of Scott, said he was outraged at the HSE's handling of the matter and the findings of its investigation.

He said he was also planning to speak with a solicitor today into the options open to his son in pursuing a civil claim.

Mr Godbold also questioned why there was no mention of BT in the report after it emerged last year that National Grid, in a solicitor's letter, made allegations about the telecommunications giant relating to the cause of the blast. At the time BT said it believed there was no evidence against it.

Mr Godbold said: "I am seeing a top solicitor and I am not happy at all.

"I was shocked when I read the report. I wrote to Nicola Wade (the lead HSE investigating inspector) in an e-mail recently slamming her for not keeping the families informed. It's taken over a year for it to come through.

"As for Scott and the other victims, they should have been kept informed about the investigation and to hear nothing until this report came through is disgusting.

"I am very concerned about their (HSE's) findings. Scott was badly injured in the explosion but poor old Kiley is never going to walk again. He is 33 years old and, because of this, he's going to have a terrible game trying to claim any sort of compensation."

Another family member of another victim of the explosion, who wished to remain anonymous, said they were "stunned" by the outcome of the report. They said they were planning to pursue civil legal action.

Paul Bailey, landlord of the Yorkshire House where victim Miss Devine-Turner works, and who organised a £7,000 fundraising event for the victims, said: "Somebody needs to take the blame for that (the explosion), it's disgusting in my opinion.

"You cannot have individuals residing in a flat and then burdened with a massive explosion which could have claimed their lives and no-one is being held responsible for it."

Hatice Celebi, who is a partner in Stitch in Time, a clothing alterations shop, in Mardol, and whose husband runs The Star Kebab and Pizza, also in Mardol, said the businesses suffered physical damage in the blast.

She said: "Our insurance company wants to know who is responsible for it."

By Russell Roberts