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A father and son have had to pay over GB pound 50,000 in costs and fines following a fire in 2007 from which their tenants had to be rescued.
Brian Murdoch, owner of the premises in Kidderminster, pleaded guilty to six charges under the Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order, while his son David, who looked after the day to day running of the building, pleaded guilty to eight charges.
The charges against the two men included the failure to make a suitable and sufficient risk assessment, failure to ensure that the premises and equipment were subject to suitable maintenance and were in good repair, and failure to co-operate as far as necessary to comply with the Fire Safety Order.
The two men were sentenced last week by district judge Brian Morgan at Kidderminster Magistrates Court. The judge awarded costs of GB pound 39,695 to Hereford & Worcester Fire and Rescue Authority. Both father and son were fined a total of GB pound 11,600. During the course of the proceedings the judge commented on the “efficiency and effectiveness” of the fire service following the fire at the premises in July 2007.
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