Royal Mint escapes charges for man's death

The Royal Mint is to rely on the ancient law of Crown immunity to escape criminal prosecution for the death of a workman hit by a falling furnace.

Under the law of Crown immunity, government departments, or bodies established by statute, are protected from prosecution in the criminal courts. But a Health and Safety Executive (HSE) report into the accident at the Royal Mint concluded that breaches of health and safety legislation led to the death of Mr Wynne at a factory in Llantrisant, south Wales, in June last year.

Mr Wynne, 50, who worked at the Mint for 21 years, was hit by a 6.5-ton furnace that became detached from the hook of an overhead crane. The HSE told a judge at a High Court hearing this week that Mr Wynne's death was "an accident waiting to happen".

Yesterday the family's solicitor, Cathryn Davies, said: "Mr Wynne's family, and in particular his wife, are understandably very disturbed and frustrated that the Royal Mint should not be subject to the same procedure and public hearing any other company would have to face in these circumstances. The family are still unable to come to terms with their loss knowing this was an accident that could have been avoided."

Mr Wynne's widow, Tina, told BBC Radio Wales that she felt very bitter. "Somebody has got to be held responsible," she said. "I have lost everything and the Mint has lost nothing."

Ministers are reviewing Crown immunity law but have reached no firm conclusions.