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Edward Whelan |
Barney’s Dad: ‘I’ve lost my son but we haven’t had justice’
Family’s pain after estate tragedy as councillor calls for investigation
THE father of a scaffolder electrocuted on a Somers Town council estate – years after the Town Hall was warned by one of its own safety managers about the poor standard of electric works on its property – has spoken of his anger.
Ralph Kennedy Snr said on Tuesday the case was a “disgrace” and warned that the council was likely to “come off with a fine and a slapped wrist”.
He said: “There has not yet been any justice for my son, as far as I am concerned. If Camden Council did what they were supposed to do and maintained the electrics on the estate, then this would never have happened.”
His son, also called Ralph, died in September 2006 after touching a faulty light unit on the Mayford estate. The earth wire, which might have saved his life by preventing the fatal shock, had been cut inside the fitting.
The New Journal revealed last week how the council and the Health and Safety Executive was sent a huge dossier – two binders thick – outlining the poor quality of electrics on Camden’s estates in the mid-1990s.
Edward Whelan, once employed by the Town Hall to monitor work by private contractors, said his alerts were not addressed – even when he told senior figures there could be a fatality. He has signed a sworn statement which might be used in legal proceedings.
Camden Council has already admitted liability but Liberal Democrat housing chief Councillor Chris Naylor uses this week’s Letters page in the New Journal to pledge an investigation into the new allegations.
“I have never tolerated complacency, self-interest, or sharp practice when it comes to ensuring we meet our health and safety responsibilities to our residents and to our staff, and as we move forward I will be making certain the council maintains high standards and follows best practice at all times,” he said.
Mr Kennedy Snr said from his home in Manchester that his 24-year-old son – better known as “Barney” – had been let down.
“I am disgusted that the council never did anything about it,” he said.
“The council still allowed workers to work on and around the deadly electrics. Mr Whelan had even warned years earlier before my son’s death how dangerous the electrics were and somebody could die on the council estate at any time.”
The new evidence has been uncovered through legal action brought by Kelly Ivory, the mother of two of Mr Kennedy’s children. Her lawyers are calling for a new inquest, police investigation and a public inquiry.
Mr Kennedy Snr said the rest of his son’s relatives should not be forgotten.
“I have lost a son and his three beautiful children have lost their father,” he said. “And all the council can say is, ‘We are extremely sorry for Mr Kennedy’s death and have every sympathy for Kelly Ivory following her loss’.
“Kelly has lost her boyfriend and the father of her children, but what about all his family – brother, sisters, nieces and nephews he has left behind.
“My son was worth millions to a lot of people and was loved dearly and will always be loved and missed.”
He added: “Regarding the council not going to Kelly and saying sorry, they have neither done that with me.
“All of Barney’s family have suffered greatly since losing him and all still are as there are always things in the papers and comments being made which I think are unnecessary.
“As far as I am concerned Camden Council are fully responsible for my son’s death whichever way it is looked at, and until it is pin-pointed who actually cut the earth wire, the council will get away with it and just come off with a hefty fine and a slapped wrist, which is despicable.
“It would just be nice for all this to be put at rest and for my son to get some sort of proper justice for what happened to him.
“No amount of money will ever compensate for his life.” |
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