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15 Jan 1999
The £4 million fine handed out to the Milford Haven Port Authority in the Sea Empress trial at Cardiff Crown Court today has been welcomed by Friends of the Earth. But FOE has described the trial procedures as “contrived”. The trial did little to answer key questions surrounding one of the worst environmental disasters in the UK,particularly on the botched salvage operation, of which the court heard next to nothing.
Gordon James, Director of Friends of the Earth Cymru, commented:
“We welcome the judge's sentence in this case.
However, the fine imposed is a fraction of the cost of one of the worst
environmental disasters Britain has yet seen.
We welcome the Milford Haven Port Authority's admission of guilt. But
because of this contrived trial, crucial features of this case have
yet to be exposed and explained. The disaster was the result of a whole
series of errors. No individual has yet taken responsibility for them
and it is well past time that someone did.
sWe are determined that the full truth must come out. If this can only
be achieved by a further prosecution, then so be it.”
Contact details:
Friends of the Earth
26-28 Underwood St.
LONDON
N1 7JQ
Tel: 020 7490 1555
Fax: 020 7490 0881
Web: www.foe.co.uk/feedback.html
Media team
