For immediate release 17 August 2007
STUC and Thompsons Solicitors Continue Support for ICL/Stockline Support Group
The STUC and Thompsons have welcomed the guilty verdict entered by ICL Plastics and ICL Tech Limited this morning but warn that only a full public inquiry will provide the families of the deceased and the injured workers with the answers they deserve.
Grahame Smith, STUC General Secretary, said:
“Shortly after the explosion on 11 May 2004, the General Council of the STUC agreed to support the families of those who lost loved ones and our lawyers, Thompsons, have in turn provided support and advice for the STUC in order to ensure that we can assist the families through what has been a horrendous time for them.
“We will continue to work with Ann McKechin MP, Patricia Ferguson MSP and Thompsons Solicitors to ensure the families of the deceased and the injured workers get the answers they deserve.
“This support will continue and only a far reaching public inquiry will help to ensure that similar breaches of health and safety legislation are reduced and that other families do not suffer the pain and anguish that members of the support group have had to overcome over the last three years. This guilty plea is the latest stage in the legal process, a process that has to deliver the justice and answers that the families deserve.”
Patrick McGuire, from Thompsons Solicitors, said:
“The families devastated by the disaster need to understand what happened, how and why it happened. They are anchored to the past and unable to move on with their lives until they have their answers. Those answers can only be provided by a full, far reaching public inquiry. They are still waiting more than three years after the tragedy, which is an unacceptably long period by the standards of any civilised nation.
“The time for answers and the time for a full public enquiry is now and we call for immediate action.”
ENDS
For further information, please contact: Ian Tasker - 07974 966 227
Notes to Editors
There will be a press conference in the STUC, 333 Woodlands Road, Glasgow, G3 6NG at 1.00 pm.
At the press conference, family representatives will give interviews on a pooled basis, the organisations chosen are ITN, Real Radio and the Press Association
Other interviews will be available with Ann McKechin MP, Patricia Ferguson MSP, Grahame Smith STUC General Secretary and Patrick McGuire from Thompsons.