Shaw man in court

A COMPANY director from Shaw has appeared in court charged with manslaughter by gross negligence after an employee fell through a roof and died in Hyde.

Kevin Palliser (59) of Rishworth Rise, appeared at Manchester Crown Court yesterday, along with Richard Vaughan Williams (42) of Priory Close, Hawarden, and Graham Coupe (59) of Hampshire Close, Glossop.

They have also been charged with failing to discharge the duty to which they were subject by the Health and Safety at Work Act 1974.

All three men are company directors of Lion Steel Equipment Ltd, which itself has been summonsed for corporate manslaughter and health and safety offences.

Steven Berry (45) died in hospital following the incident at an industrial unit in Johnson Brook Road, Hyde, on May 29, 2008, where he fell 10 metres through a fragile roof panel.

The case was adjourned until December and the men granted unconditional bail.