Company fined £150,000 for boy's brain injury
A company was fined £150,000 in public liability costs, after a boy suffered a “catastrophic” brain injury after nearly drowning in its swimming pool.
It was reported that the company lost a challenge against its conviction today.
The Lord Chief Justice, Lord Judge, and two other judges at the Court of Appeal in London, rejected an application brought by the firm.
The incident happened when the seven-year-old boy was on holiday with his family at a caravan park in Porthcawl, South Wales, in the Splashland pool on October 18, 2005.
The company was found guilty by majority verdict of failing to ensure the youngster was not exposed to risks of personal injury.
The company owns and operates the caravan park, which is one of the largest in Europe.
It was reported that the company had denied the offence over two trials at Cardiff Crown Court. The jury in the first case was unable to reach a firm verdict.
The judges dismissed an application by the company for leave to appeal against the June 2009 conviction.
The Lord Chief Justice announced: “We have decided that there is no arguable basis for concluding that the conviction of the applicant in this case was unsafe.”
Updated on 04/03/2010