Pit Manager Cleared Over Wales Mine Deaths

A former pit manager has been cleared of manslaughter after four miners drowned at a colliery in South Wales.

Malcolm Fyfield had been in charge of the Gleision mine when around 650,000 gallons of water were unleashed after explosives were used.

Philip Hill, 44, Charles Breslin, 62, David Powell, 50, and 39-year-old Garry Jenkins were killed in the tragedy in September 2011.

MNS Mining, the owner of the colliery near Pontardawe, was also cleared of corporate manslaughter charges.

Mr Fyfield, 58, was negligent by allowing the men to dig towards an area where underground water was present, according to prosecutors.

But the father-of-two insisted he carried out safety inspections on the eve of the tragedy which showed no water was present.

He broke down in tears and hugged his wife Gillian after the verdicts were delivered at Swansea Crown Court.

(L-R) Philip Hill, Charles Breslin, David Powell and Garry Jenkins

The men had been working in a part of Gleision called H1 on September 15 when tragedy struck.

They were trying to break through an area called The Old Central Workings to improve ventilation.

Mr Fyfield, who was close to the blast site, managed to escape after crawling through dirt and sludge.

When he eventually reached the surface 20 minutes later, he told rescuers: "There is no hope for the others".

Two other men who also managed to get out alive - Nigel Evans and David "Jake" Wyatt - later described the sound of the rushing water as like a "jet engine" whoosh.

Search and rescue teams at the scene in September 2011

Two witnesses for the prosecution - outgoing mine manager Ray Thomas and Neath Port Talbot Council planning chief Alun Rees - both said they warned Mr Fyfield about underground water weeks before the massive flood.

But Mr Fyfield's QC Elwen Evans described the investigation into the tragedy as inadequate - saying many parts of the mine were not examined afterwards.

The defendant himself also said he had carried out three safety inspections the day before. He insisted he had examined both sides of the coalface and not found any water.

After the case, relatives of the victims issued a statement which was read by a police officer, saying they would never get over their loss.

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