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Gleision: Families granted full inquest into men's mining deaths

Family photos (l-r) Charles Breslin, David Powell, Philip Hill and Garry JenkinsFamily photos
Charles Breslin, David Powell, Philip Hill and Garry Jenkins died after water rushed into Gleision colliery

A full inquest will be held into the deaths of four miners in a south Wales colliery disaster 11 years ago.

Charles Breslin, 62, David Powell, 50, Phillip Hill, 44, and Garry Jenkins, 39, died when water flooded the Gleision drift mine, near Cilybebyll, Neath Port Talbot, in September 2011.

Their families have been calling for an inquest since last year.

Senior Coroner Colin Phillips said there was a "real prospect" the deaths could have been avoided.

Families said an inquest would help reveal "many unanswered questions", with Mr Breslin's widow, Mavis, saying she felt "cheated" of a husband and an inquest.

Reacting to the news, Ms Breslin said she was "very grateful that at least we'll have conclusion on the matter and get some answers".

Speaking at a hearing at Swansea Guildhall, Mr Phillips said mine manager Malcolm Fyfield, who was cleared of manslaughter charges in 2014, is "the only one that opposes" the reopening of the full inquest.

Nigel Evans (left) and Jake Wyatt spoke about their "survivors' guilt" in 2011.

"Whilst I'm sympathetic, his ill health is not a sufficient reason to not resume inquest," he said.

"It's more than a suspicion that coal reserves were illegally used."

The disaster happened after routine blasting when thousands of gallons of water flooded into a tunnel where seven miners were working. Three of them escaped.

In October, Christian Howells, representing the families, said the Coal Authority and the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) had failed to ensure plans of the workings of the mine were up-to-date, that precautions were taken, and that there was a second exit for the miners.

He also argued that the fact that more than 11 years had passed was not a reason for not resuming an inquest.

The families' call for the inquest came after a BBC Wales Investigates programme uncovered allegations authorities had failed to get to the bottom of the men's deaths.

Bereaved families
The families of the four miners who died outside Swansea Guildhall

Michael Imperato, representing the families, said they were "really pleased, it's been a long fight for them".

"The coroner actually said that there was evidence of failings by the state, systematic failings by the state, and these failings... there's evidence they led to the death of these men".

Senedd Member Sioned Williams said: "I felt this personally as something that the community needs answers to - it's been extremely frustrating that their voices haven't been heard.

"I'm just extremely relieved and happy."

A pre-inquest hearing will be held early in the new year.