Day 086 - 09 Feb 95 - Page 02


     
     1                                 Thursday, 9th February 1995.
     2
     3   MS. STEEL:  So we have an idea what is going on, we are almost
     4        certain to be finished today -- probably with a couple of
     5        hours to spare.
     6
     7   MR. JUSTICE BELL:  You might think about during the day,
     8        everyone, in the light of that, about tomorrow, what is
     9        going to happen tomorrow.  Yes.
    10
    11                        MR. ATHERTON, continued.
    12              Cross-examined by the Defendants, continued.
    13
    14   MR. MORRIS:  Do you know about the death of Mark Hopkins in
    15        October 1992 in Manchester?
    16        A.  Yes, I have heard about Mark's death.
    17
    18   Q.   Is that an incident that is well known in the company?
    19        A.  Everyone knows about that.
    20
    21   Q.   And taken seriously?
    22        A.  Yes, I cannot see how -----
    23
    24   Q.   He was a floor manager who was electrocuted, yes?
    25        A.  Yes.
    26
    27   Q.   What criticism, what fault, do you accept for
    28        responsibility for that incident, as a company, not you
    29        personally?
    30        A.  I do not feel I am able to comment as a company on
    31        that.  I was not in a position when that incident
    32        happened.  I just know my own personal view on it but I do
    33        not know, as a company, whether I could comment or
    34        understand what -- I do not know the circumstances around
    35        it.  The person who was in charge of that and investigated
    36        it thoroughly was Jill Barnes who is along later.  It was
    37        her responsibility at the time that Mark's unfortunate
    38        tragedy happened.  I was not in the position that was
    39        responsible for health and safety.
    40
    41   MR. JUSTICE BELL:  I think all what Mr. Morris is really asking,
    42        do you know of some lapse, failure or gap in procedures
    43        which ---
    44        A.  From?
    45
    46   Q.   -- in your experience, which is spread over a number of
    47        positions you have been in?
    48        A.  From my understanding, what I have heard of the case, I
    49        do not think we were at fault in any way.
    50 
    51   MR. MORRIS:  So you were an Operations Supervisor at that time? 
    52        A.  Operations Manager -- hang on, I believe I was in 
    53        Operations Development, it was 1992.  It was round about
    54        the period.
    55
    56   Q.   October 12th, 1992?
    57        A.  I was in the position of Operations Development Manager
    58        in -----
    59
    60   Q.   But you were not responsible for any stores at that time?

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