Two men killed in Hull collapse were 'trespassers'

by Glenda Thisdell

Two of the four men inside the warehouse that collapsed in Hull last week killing three of them were "trespassers" claimed the building's owner London-based Marketing Exchange for Africa.

As the Health and Safety Executive and Hull police continue their preliminary investigations into the collapse, a director of Marketing Exchange for Africa confirmed that it had employed people to carry out clearing work in preparation for a planning application. But he alleged "two were trespassers".

HSE and the police are still deciding what course the investigation should run and whether a criminal investigation is warranted. HSE issued a prohibition notice on demolition or construction work to the building owners in February this year stating that the building was fire damaged and that areas were likely to suffer structural collapse. The notice also stated that adequate supervision was not provided and that a planning supervisor and principle contractor had not been appointed. The prohibition notice did not cover clearing work said an HSE spokesman.

Only a week before the accident, an investigation by structural engineers employed by the council led to a second notice under the 1984 Building Act being issued. An earlier notice, issued last July following a fire in the building, requiring the owners to make the rear safe was acted upon.

The three men who died were Shaughan Walsh, 43, Anthony Laughton, 38, and Dave Jowett, 44.