Proceedings lined up after inflatable art show tragedy (From The Northern Echo)

Proceedings lined up after inflatable art show tragedy

9:02am Wednesday 23rd April 2008

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A COUNCIL, a senior official and an events company face crown court proceedings on charges relating to the Dreamspace inflatable art tragedy.

Chester-le-Street District Council, its director of development services, Tony Galloway, and Brouhaha International, the Liverpool-based promotional company behind the inflatable art installation, are all accused of health and safety breaches.

The charges stem from the accident in which the Dreamspace inflatable art installation became airborne, leading to the death of two women and serious injury to other users, at Chesterle- Street's Riverside Park, on July 23, 2006.

Dreamspace creator, 76-yearold Maurice Agis, from east London, is accused of two counts of manslaughter by gross negligence, and another allegation under the Health and Safety at Work Act.

He has already been committed to appear at Newcastle Crown Court.

The council, Mr Galloway and Brouhaha were yesterday all committed by North Durham magistrates to join Mr Agis at the crown court, next month.

Mr Galloway, 48, of Wigglesworth, Bishop Auckland, is alleged to have failed to properly assess the risks and precautionary measures necessary to exhibit Dreamspace.

The council is charged under the same Act for failing to ensure the public was not exposed to risks.

Brouhaha International, of Toxteth, Liverpool, is accused of failing to ensure the health, safety and welfare at work of its employees while working with Dreamspace.

The allegations follow a lengthy investigation by police and the Health and Safety Executive into the Dreamspace disaster, on a sunny Sunday afternoon at the Chester-le-Street beauty spot.

It claimed the lives of 38-yearold mother-of-two Claire Furmedge, from Chester-le- Street, and retired clerk Elizabeth Anne Collings, 68, from Seaham, also in County Durham.

Among 27 other casualties visiting the inflatable sculpture was three-year-old Rosie Wright, from Langley Park, near Durham, who fought her way back to health after suffering horrific injuries in the accident.

She was thrown from the walkthrough installation, as was 23- year-old Gemma Nadolski, from Leamside, near Durham, after it became airborne.

The large inflatable was on an Arts Council-funded UK tour and the accident took place on the second of its nine-day scheduled stay in Chester-le-Street.

Dreamspace was made up of more than 150 multi-coloured PVC sheets forming a labyrinth of tunnels, which visitors were invited to walk through.

Mr Agis and Mr Galloway have been granted bail and will appear with representatives of Brouhaha and the council at the crown court, on Tuesday, May 6.

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