A public hearing into Britain's worst outbreak of Legionnaire's disease opened in Barrow-in-Furness on Monday. One minute's silence was held during the hearing, which was organised by the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) at the Abbey House Hotel. Seven people died in the outbreak, which was caused by a faulty air-conditioning system at a council-run arts centre in August 2002. Earlier this year, Barrow-in-Furness BC's head of design services, Gillian Beckingham, was cleared of causing the deaths, but was fined £15,000 for failing to ensure the air-conditioning system was properly maintained. Chair, Colin Pickthall, said: ‘The purpose of these meetings is to provide an opportunity for members of the public, especially the families of those who died, the people who suffered illness and the wider community of Barrow, to learn about the circumstances and the causes of the outbreak.' The hearing closed on the same day and will resume again on 11 December. The HSE is expected to publish a report on the hearings in March 2007. The council's internal inquiry into the outbreak was suspended in September, it is believed, because of disciplinary proceedings against Ms Beckingham, and remains adjourned.
