Gabriel Kane, trading as Northside Demolition, has been fined a total of £1,526 after pleading guilty at Belfast Magistrates Court on 30 October 2007 to breaches of health and safety legislation. This follows the investigation of a complaint from a member of the public regarding the demolition of St. Peters Church Hall, in Belfast, on 27 March 2006.
Asbestos cement slates had been taken off the roof and thrown to the ground. The majority of the slates were broken increasing the risk of asbestos fibre release. The method statement prepared by Northside Demolition for the work on the church had not been implemented.
Following the hearing, Ken Logan Principal Construction Inspector of the Health and Safety Executive for Northern Ireland (HSE NI) said, "This incident which involved both work at height and dealing with asbestos was very poorly supervised. Management failed to implement the method statement and to ensure that appropriate work equipment was on site before the work was allowed to start. The Construction Industry must not only make sure that the paperwork, which is evidence of the planning process, is in place, but that it is fully implemented."
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