Inquiry into E.coli outbreak opens

Feb 12 2008 by Madeleine Brindley, Media Wales

People need to be reminded of the human cost of E.coli

Inquiry team has collected 36,000 pages of evidence

Q Why was the public inquiry set up?

A The E.coli public inquiry was set up by the National Assembly in response to the outbreak, which started in September 2005. More than 150 people – mainly children – became ill, 31 of whom were hospitalised. Deri Primary School pupil Mason Jones, aged five, died. In total 44 schools – in Rhondda Cynon Taf, Bridgend, Caerphilly and Merthyr Tydfil – were affected by the outbreak. It was the second worst in the UK and the sixth worst in the world.

Q Will the inquiry find who was to blame for the outbreak?

A No, the inquiry’s role is to thoroughly investigate the outbreak, to establish the facts and find out what happened. It cannot determine any civil or criminal liability and it cannot award compensation. Butcher William Tudor pleaded guilty to a handful of offences of supplying E.coli-contaminated meat products to the schools and breaches of food hygiene laws. He was sentenced to 12 months imprisonment in September 2007, with a recommendation to serve half that.

Q Who will give evidence at the inquiry?

A The inquiry will hear evidence from a whole raft of people connected to, or involved in the outbreak, including Mason’s mother Sharon Mills. It will also take oral evidence from environmental health officers who were responsible for inspecting the John Tudor & Son factory in Bridgend Industrial Estate, where the outbreak originated, and from members of the outbreak control team. William Tudor has been invited to provide the inquiry with a written statement, but it was last night not clear whether he had done that. It was also not clear whether he would be called to appear at the inquiry, which will last six weeks. The inquiry team has already collected some 36,000 pages of evidence, including evidence gathered by the South Wales Police investigation into Mason’s death.

Q What happens at the end of the inquiry?

A The inquiry is scheduled to last six weeks, after which Professor Hugh Pennington will compile a report. It is expected to provide recommendations designed to prevent a similar outbreak happening again.