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There is a "lurking doubt" that dad-of-three John Robinson died because profits were put ahead of safety. John, 49, fell 100ft when "shoddy" scaffolding collapsed at a building site in Milton Keynes, Huntingdon Crown Court heard there were "numerous defects" in the work by NNM Scaffolding, of Mansfield, Notts. NNM has gone bust so can't be charged.
But two other firms - McAleer & Rushe and Lee Smith Carpentry - have admitted health and safety offences.
Ian Bailey QC, prosecuting, told the court McAleer & Rushe's "inadequate" site management failed to inspect scaffolding.
The day before the collapse three tonnes of tiles and two tonnes of poles were dumped at one end of the scaffold.
This was a "disaster waiting to happen", said Judge Nicholas Colman.
McAleer & Rushe blamed the scaffolders and the cladding firm for the problems.
But Judge Colman said: "There had been previous concerns about their management of scaffolding issues. It may be commercial considerations cut across proper safety arrangements. There must be a lurking doubt."
He fined M&R £90,000 and ordered it to pay £42,000 costs and Lee Smith Carpentry £36,000 plus £28,000 costs.
John's widow Christine said: "If all safety issues had been in place, John would be with us today."
Source: Mirror.co.uk
But two other firms - McAleer & Rushe and Lee Smith Carpentry - have admitted health and safety offences.
Ian Bailey QC, prosecuting, told the court McAleer & Rushe's "inadequate" site management failed to inspect scaffolding.
The day before the collapse three tonnes of tiles and two tonnes of poles were dumped at one end of the scaffold.
This was a "disaster waiting to happen", said Judge Nicholas Colman.
McAleer & Rushe blamed the scaffolders and the cladding firm for the problems.
But Judge Colman said: "There had been previous concerns about their management of scaffolding issues. It may be commercial considerations cut across proper safety arrangements. There must be a lurking doubt."
He fined M&R £90,000 and ordered it to pay £42,000 costs and Lee Smith Carpentry £36,000 plus £28,000 costs.
John's widow Christine said: "If all safety issues had been in place, John would be with us today."
Source: Mirror.co.uk
