The managing director of a caravan park has pleaded guilty on behalf of one of his companies to the corporate manslaughter of Thomas Houston, who died after being crushed by a static caravan, at Silvercove Caravan Park near Kilkeel, County Down in February 2012.
Alan Milne, of Armagh Road, Newry, appeared at Newry Crown Court in a personal capacity and representing two of his companies. He pleaded guilty on behalf of one of his companies, Nicole Enterprises, to the corporate manslaughter of Mr Houston and to breaching health and safety regulations by failing to “ensure the health, safety and welfare of employees”. However he denied a charge of manslaughter in a personal capacity in relation to the death.
Additionally, as the managing director of Dieci Ltd, he pleaded not guilty to a count of corporate manslaughter and to a further charge of breaching health and safety regulations by failing to properly assess risks posed to employees.
Following the mixed pleas, a prosecuting lawyer told Newry Crown Court there were now matters for the Crown to consider but added that “in all likelihood a trial will not be necessary” and asked for the case to be relisted on 23 March for an update.
The judge told Mr Houston’s family, who were sitting in the public gallery, that it was “particularly sad to see the demise of what was clearly a good husband and father and a very hard-working man”.
