Families Call for Inquest 11 Years After Mining Disaster
Families have support from Senedd members as questions remain unanswered about what lead to the tragedy in 2011
Last updated 20th Oct 2022
Families of the four miners killed 11 years ago in the Gleision Mining Disaster are calling for an ‘imminent’ decision for an inquest into what led to the tragedy in 2011.
On the 15th of September 2011 Charles Breslin, David Powell, Philip Hill, and Garry Jenkins were killed after a routine explosion at Gleision Colliery near Cilybebyll. After the blast, thousands of gallons flooded into the tunnel where seven miners were working. Only three of the men were able to escape.
After investigations, charges were brought against the mine manager and MNS Mining Ltd, who owned the mine for manslaughter, but both were found not guilty.
However, outside of that court case, no official inquiry was conducted, but an independent investigation found issues with the operation of the mine. This investigation found alleged failures by regulatory bodies may have resulted in operators illegally working coal and not recording it on the mine plans.
This is now why the victim’s families will now protest to get the Coroner of Swansea ad Neath Port Talbot to respond to this new evidence. They were first presented with this evidence back in April, and now campaigners are saying it is time to green-light this inquiry.
The families now have the support of members of the Senedd, with MS for South Wales West Sioned Williams backing the family’s calls.
Sioned Williams told us ‘I’ve met several times with the families. They live in my community. It’s just become very apparent to me that they don’t feel that they are being listened to, and I think that is shocking given the trauma that they’ve already been through.
I’ve met with the mine owners too and they feel the same, they want those answers.’
She also explained that an inquiry here could prevent disasters at other private collieries across the UK.
‘I just feel it's essential... the safety considerations. There are still private mines all over the UK, so I think it is really essential to know what happened to learn lessons for the future because there are people who still work underground in our communities.’