Retrial ordered in Barrow legionnaires' deaths case

The Barrow legionnaires' disease trial ended last month when the judge discharged the jury.

Following the deaths of seven people in an outbreak of the disease at an arts centre in July 2002, Barrow Borough Council had faced the first corporate manslaughter prosecution of a local authority - but the charges against the council were withdrawn during the trial.

The case continued against council architect Gillian Beckingham for her part in the tragedy, which infected more than 170 people with legionnaire's disease spread from the arts centre's air-conditioning system. The jury found her guilty of breaching health and safety law, but could not reach a verdict on the manslaughter charge against her.

The Crown Prosecution Service has ordered a retrial of Beckingham, but no date for this has been set.