Manslaughter Charges Filed for UK Legionnaire's Outbreak

A local British council official has been charged with seven counts of manslaughter over an outbreak of Legionnaire's Disease in 2002.

Gillian Beckingham, a design services manager with Barrow Borough Council, has been bailed to appear before magistrates on February 24.

Summonses have also been served on the council itself, in relation to the seven charges of manslaughter.

Both Beckingham and the authority also are accused of breaching of the Health And Safety At Work Act.

In August of 2002, seven people died and 170 fell victim to the illness, which was traced to a 30-year-old air conditioning unit at Barrow's Forum 28 arts complex.

The outbreak was one of the worst ever seen in Britain.

Source: BBC News