No charges over firefighters' deaths (From Daily Echo)
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No charges over firefighters' deaths
11:36am Tuesday 29th May 2012 in News
By Julian Robinson, Eastleigh Chief Reporter
NOBODY will be prosecuted over the deaths of two Southampton firefighters in the Shirley Towers blaze, health and safety bosses have revealed today.
Alan Bannon, 38, and James Shears, 35, were killed as they tackled the fire on the ninth floor of the huge tower block almost two years ago.
As previously reported, nobody will face criminal charges following a complex 18-month investigation by Hampshire Police, who have taken the decision not to refer the case to the Crown Prosecution Service.
But now the Health and Safety Executive has announced it will not be seeking to prosecute anyone in relation to the tragedy.
The findings come just weeks before the start of an inquest in to the deaths of the two men.
Coroner Keith Wiseman will preside over a four-week inquest which will be heard by a jury at Southampton Council Chambers.
