[imc-scotland-discussion] indy scot news-sheet article on Graham Meldrum FAI
mike92 at riseup.net
mike92 at riseup.net
Mon Sep 1 10:11:36 PDT 2008
hi tom and jon and all
here as inline text and open office attahcment Graham meldrum article,
two versions, longer one about as long as "workers intolerable
conditions" article in latest news-sheet, shorter about 150 words less,
sorry couldnt cut them down more, will try and keep sheriff officers and
chiapas airport picket ones shorter
all the best mike, edinburgh
ps you can find poss illustrations at
_http://www.myspace.com/gmmemorialcampaign
<http://www.myspace.com/gmmemorialcampaign>
_
pps will try and post fuller version to site
pps is there still room , Tom and JOn, for people to contribute new
articles for news-sheet, eg shorts?
------------------------------------------------------------
long version approx 770 words
"Lorry should not have been on the road"
Companies condemned at glasgow Fatal Accident Inquiry
The main Health and Safety inspector attending the scene told Glasgow
Sheriff Court that the lorry tail-lift that killed Dr Graham Meldrum at
Allied Bakeries Glasgow depot in July 2005 was not operational. The
lorry should not have been on the road, he stated. The Fatal Accident
Inquiry into Dr Meldrum's workplace death started its fifth week on
11^th August, and heard damning evidence of corporate disregard for
workers' safety.
The health and safety inspector testified that there was long-standing
corrosion in the lorry's tail-lift, and that there were missing pins,
brackets, and springs. Little or no maintenance had been carried out. Dr
Meldrum was killed when crushed by this faulty tail lift on 12 July 2005.
Further evidence revealed that Zurich Insurance inspected the vehicles
but ignored these obvious vital safety faults. Ryder had the
responsibility for repairing the vehicles, but only carried out repairs
they were ordered to do, ignoring most of the blatant faults.
CRIMINAL CHARGES
Graham's partner Karen Thomson told Indymedia Scotland : "If this Fatal
Accident Inquiry had been prior to the prosecution then the array of
charges would have been much more and the likes of Mr Keith Thompson
(Allied Bakeries manager) would face individual criminal charges." (Both
Allied Bakeries/ ABF Grains and TNT Logistics UK were found guilty of
safety breaches in connection with Dr Meldrum's death, but received only
paltry fines of £19,500 and £14,000. Graham's employers, Suzyline
agency, were not prosecuted.)
Karen herself testified at the resumed FAI. She told us : " I GAVE
EVIDENCE AND REMINDED THEM ALL THAT WE ARE TALKING ABOUT A MAN.... I
SPOKE OF HIM WORKING FOR workers co-op GREENCITY FOR 16 YEARS AS OPPOSED
TO USING HIS PHD IN CHEMISTRY BECAUSE HE COULDN'T ACCEPT THE LACK OF
MORALS OF BIG BUSINESS AND THEIR REFUSAL TO TAKE ANY RESPONSIBILITY FOR
THEIR ACTIONS AGAINST INDIVIDUALS, COMMUNITIES AND THE EARTH. "
MURDERED FOR PROFIT
"The way I feel now in some ways is still grateful, grateful for who
Graham was, his principles, his humour, his love for this our earth and
all her inhabitants, his love for me and the girls and I'm still
grateful that we are who we are and not them. I wouldn't want to be as
inhumane as cold and calculating, to be only concerned with economics,
the pursuit of profit and to fuck with any consequences. "
"Yet again I feel that this is in their world, their idea of justice and
I don't want any part of it. As long as we are seen as their property,
as long as they change things, make up things etc to suit their pocket
then we will die and be maimed. "
" I am convinced that my beautiful Graham was murdered for profit, he
wasn't the first and he wont be the last. My fight goes on."
CAMPAIGN CONTINUES
The Graham Meldrum memorial Campaign describe their struggle:
"We have fought for and won a prosecution and then a fatal accident
inquiry. We have effectively taken on global giants ABF Grains (Allied
Bakeries, Primark, Pataks, Twinnings, British Sugar etc - feel free to
message these companies!!!) ) and TNT and at the same time
highlighted the biased unjust machine we call prosecution services.
"The public enquiry into the Stockline Disaster in Glasgow is currently
underway and the 20th Anniversary of the Piper Alpha Disaster where oil
giants got away with mass murder. So the killing of workers with no
repercussion except for the families isn't new. It's awards for
enterprise for them and grief, loss, poverty and the whole weight of the
law for us. "
"In the face of this we have rediscovered each other, our courage, our
spirits, our love for Graham and our love for justice... real justice
not just monetary justice. "
"Undoubtedly what we are doing is something we will have to discuss
further. We won prosecution, we won a fatal accident inquiry, a small
band of people with love on their side can change things but what of
justice?"
PLEA FOR SOLIDARITY
The Fatal Accident Inquiry resumes at Glasgow Sheriff Court on 15^th
September, and will probably run at least for all that week. Karen
Thomson told Indymedia Scotland:
"This is a plea to all to come to court with us, an hour here or there.
A chance for your good heart and shiny face to counteract the dark and
powerful suits. You will never know how important it is to see good
faces in that court where nightmares come true. Thank you for continued
love and support. Thank you, Karen,
*/CONTACT/*
Graham Meldrum Memorial Campaign
gmmc at hotmail.co.uk _http://www.myspace.com/gmmemorialcampaign_
IWW Independent revolutionary union - _www.iww.org.uk
<http://www.iww.org.uk/>_
The Hazards Campaign - campaigners on safety at work
_www.hazardscampaign.org.uk
<http://www.msplinks.com/MDFodHRwOi8vd3d3LmhhemFyZHNjYW1wYWlnbi5vcmcudWs=>_
shorter version approx 625 words
"Lorry should not have been on the road"
Companies condemned at Glasgow Fatal Accident Inquiry
The main Health and Safety inspector attending the scene told Glasgow
Sheriff Court that the lorry tail-lift that killed Dr Graham Meldrum at
Allied Bakeries Glasgow depot in 2005 was not operational. The lorry
should not have been on the road, he stated. The Fatal Accident Inquiry
into Dr Meldrum's workplace death started its fifth week on 11^th
August, and heard damning evidence of corporate disregard for workers'
safety.
The health and safety inspector testified that there was long-standing
corrosion in the lorry's tail-lift, and that there were missing pins,
brackets, and springs. Little or no maintenance had been carried out. Dr
Meldrum was fatally crushed by this faulty tail lift on 12 July 2005.
Further evidence revealed that Zurich Insurance inspected the vehicles
but ignored these obvious vital safety faults. Ryder had the
responsibility for repairing the vehicles, but only carried out repairs
as instructed, ignoring blatant faults.
CRIMINAL CHARGES
Graham's partner Karen Thomson told Indymedia Scotland : "If this Fatal
Accident Inquiry had been prior to the prosecution then the array of
charges would have been much more and the likes of Mr Keith Thompson
(Allied Bakeries manager) would face individual criminal charges." (Both
Allied Bakeries/ ABF Grains and TNT Logistics UK were found guilty of
safety breaches but received only paltry fines of £19,500 and £14,000.
Graham's employers, Suzyline agency, were not prosecuted.)
Karen herself testified at the FAI. She told us : " I REMINDED THEM ALL
THAT WE ARE TALKING ABOUT A MAN.... I SPOKE OF HIM WORKING FOR workers
co-op GREENCITY FOR 16 YEARS AS OPPOSED TO USING HIS PHD IN CHEMISTRY
BECAUSE HE COULDN'T ACCEPT THE LACK OF MORALS OF BIG BUSINESS AND THEIR
REFUSAL TO TAKE ANY RESPONSIBILITY FOR THEIR ACTIONS AGAINST
INDIVIDUALS, COMMUNITIES AND THE EARTH. "
.... I'm still grateful that we are who we are and not them. I wouldn't
want to be as inhumane as cold and calculating, to be only concerned
with economics, the pursuit of profit and to fuck with any consequences. "
"As long as we are seen as their property, as long as they change
things, make up things etc to suit their pocket then we will die and be
maimed. "
" I am convinced that my beautiful Graham was murdered for profit, he
wasn't the first and he wont be the last. My fight goes on."
CAMPAIGN CONTINUES
The Graham Meldrum memorial Campaign write:
"We have fought for and won a prosecution and then a fatal accident
inquiry. We have effectively taken on global giants ABF Grains (Allied
Bakeries, Primark, Pataks, Twinnings, British Sugar etc) and TNT and at
the same time highlighted the biased unjust machine we call prosecution
services.
"The public enquiry into the Stockline Disaster in Glasgow is currently
underway and the 20th Anniversary of the Piper Alpha Disaster where oil
giants got away with mass murder. .... It's awards for enterprise for
them and grief, loss, poverty and the whole weight of the law for us. "
"Undoubtedly what we are doing is something we will have to discuss
further. We won prosecution, we won a fatal accident inquiry, a small
band of people with love on their side can change things but what of
justice?"
PLEA FOR SOLIDARITY
The Fatal Accident Inquiry resumes at Glasgow Sheriff Court on 15^th
September, probably for at least that week. Karen Thomson: "This is a
plea to all to come to court with us, an hour here or there. A chance
for your good heart and shiny face to counteract the dark and powerful
suits. You will never know how important it is to see good faces in that
court where nightmares come true. Thank you for continued love and
support."
*/CONTACT/*
Graham Meldrum Memorial Campaign
gmmc at hotmail.co.uk _http://www.myspace.com/gmmemorialcampaign_
IWW Independent revolutionary union - _www.iww.org.uk
<http://www.iww.org.uk/>_
The Hazards Campaign - safety at work _www.hazardscampaign.org.uk
<http://www.msplinks.com/MDFodHRwOi8vd3d3LmhhemFyZHNjYW1wYWlnbi5vcmcudWs=>_
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