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Justice Mother of man killed in a faulty lift ‘totally disillusioned’ with the inquest system

Families Against Corporate Killers has called for bosses who failed to have the lift repaired to face swift prosecution

THE mother of a young man who was killed in a faulty lift while working in a Swansea pub says she was “totally disillusioned” with the inquest system after a verdict of “accidental death” was recorded.

Campaign group Families Against Corporate Killers (Fack) called for a swift prosecution of bosses who failed to have the lift repaired.

Barman Cyran Stewart, 20, was fatally injured while working at a Walkabout pub in Swansea on February 24 2014.

He was moving heavy furniture at closing time when he was pinned against the inside wall of the lift by a bar stool weighing 44lb.

The inquest heard he was trapped for more than 31 minutes before firefighters could reach him.

An emergency door release mechanism was missing, which may have delayed his rescue, the jury also heard.

Other members of staff had been trapped earlier in unreported “near-miss” incidents but not injured. This was not enough for bosses to take action to correct the fault.

Mr Stewart died in hospital four days after the incident.

Police launched a criminal inquiry, but Walkabout owners Intertain were never charged.

Responding to the inquest verdict, Mr Stewart’s mother Elizabeth Galbraith said: “I feel totally disillusioned by the inquest system.

“My son Cyran did not die in a freak accident that could not be foreseen or prevented but in an incident similar to several others that had previously occurred and about which I believe management and supervisors were aware.

“I believe that action could have been taken to prevent my son from being in that situation in the first place and prevented his death.

“Following the death of my son, that action has now been taken.  It will prevent further deaths, but it will never bring Cyran back.”

Hilda Palmer of Fack said: “Yet again, we hear of a case where something has gone wrong, a worker is killed and his family devastated forever.

“Workers should not die before lessons are learnt. The legal duty is clear and we call on all employers everywhere to face up to, and review, your health and safety management and take urgent action to stop your work from killing or hurting anyone.

“For Cyran’s mother, we hope now for a swift decision on a  prosecution of those responsible for protecting Cyran’s safety at work.”

Fack was founded in 2006 by the families of people killed at work.

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