THE daughter and disabled son of a woman who was killed when she was struck by a piece of flying debris during the demolition of Gorbals tower blocks are suing for #320,000.
Mrs Helen Tinney, 61, was part of a large crowd watching the 22-storey flats in Queen Elizabeth Square in Glasgow being blown up in a controlled explosion in September 1993.
The public was encouraged to spectate at what was billed as Britain's biggest explosion since the end of the Second World War, involving two-and-a-half tons of gelignite.
In the legal action by Mrs Tinney's daughter Maureen and on behalf of her son Patrick, it is alleged that the death was caused by the negligence of Glasgow City Council, Ladkarn Demolition (now in liquidation) and Wreckers Dismantling Ltd.
Miss Tinney, 39, is claiming damages of #20,000 and is also claiming #300,000 for her brother, who suffers from epilepsy and from acromegaly, a hormonal disorder which causes a series of associated problems. His mother was his principal carer and it is alleged that her death affected him to a greater extent than normal. He is now being looked after by his sister.
Mrs Tinney died in the Victoria Infirmary after collapsing at the scene of the blast. At first it was thought she had suffered from a heart attack but it was later discovered that she had been struck on the chest by a lump of flying concrete.
In their action at the Court of Session, the Tinneys quote from a report of the director of building control who stated: ''The blowdown of the building would take place as a single event on one day with all persons excluded from a zone extending all around the buildings for a distance of twice the height of the building - approximately 130 yards in every direction from the outermost edge of the blocks. The risk of injury to the public is totally removed by this method.''
The demolition was arranged for Sunday, September 12, 1993, after detailed discussions as to the detailed method to be used - for example on the blast protection and exclusion zone required for the protection of bystanders.
According to the Tinneys, the council, Ladkarn, and Wreckers agreed on the exclusion zone. They also say that a trial blast which was carried out shortly before the main explosion resulted in flying debris which injured a workman and damaged several cars. The Tinneys say that the demolition was extensively publicised by the local authority and that a large crowd had gathered outside the exclusion zone by the time of the blast.
As a result of the explosion substantial quantities of debris from the tower blocks were propelled outside the exclusion zone and Mrs Tinney suffered her fatal injury. The three defenders deny liability and, after a brief procedural hearing yesterday before Lord Nimmo Smith, a legal debate is likely to take place at a later date.
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