HSE Prosecution: Company owner and director sentenced to 10 years imprisonment for Gross Negligence Manslaughter

The owner and director of a paddleboard company has been sentenced to 10 years and six months imprisonment after being convicted of four counts of gross negligence manslaughter and one count of breaching s.3(2) HASAWA 1974 (general duty to those other than their employees).

Three participants and one instructor were on a paddleboarding tour and tragically lost their lives after they became trapped and drowned. The river was deemed as being in an extremely hazardous condition after significant flooding.

The prosecution was brought following a joint investigation between the Police and HSE. The defendant was deemed as not being suitably qualified to conduct the tour. At sentencing, the judge highlighted that the defendant’s “whole approach to basic health and safety was abysmal”. The incident is a reminder of both the devastating impact which can arise when health and safety is not properly considered and the force by which the criminal law can penalise those who do not give safety this consideration.