Other UK News In Brief

7/7 Ringleader Said 'People Would Pay'

The 7 July inquest has heard how the plot's ringleader said that "people would pay for what they had done to Pakistan". It was also highlighted how Mohammad Sidique Khan's brother was concerned regarding the hard-line religious stance his brother explored. On Monday, the inquests began hearing about the bombers backgrounds. Among the evidence, it was heard how young people in the Beeston area of Leeds looked up to Khan because of the quality of his youth work. Khan was one of four suicide bombers who killed 52 people on 7 July 2005.

High Court Rejects Home Pill Bid

The High Court has rejected a legal bid to allow women having an early medical abortion to take some of their pills at home. The British Pregnancy Advisory Service (BPAS) argued that women should be able to choose where they complete their treatment. However the law is to remain the same so women have to make two visits and are given pills each time. The pills are taken 24 to 48 hours apart in order to induce a miscarriage. The Department of Health opposed the change, which would have covered England, Scotland and Wales.

Manufacturing Company Fined After Safety Breaches

A manufacturing firm has been prosecuted after health and safety failures at its Northumberland premises. Hendry Hydraulics Ltd was prosecuted after Health and Safety Executive (HSE) inspectors visited Hendry Eurohoist Cylinders in Ashington and served two Prohibition Notices. South Northumberland Magistrates’ Court heard the notices were served because the locking mechanism on the doors to two CNC (computer numerically controlled) lathes, designed to prevent workers coming into contact with dangerous moving parts, had been deliberately bypassed. On 11 March 2010, two HSE Inspectors saw a machine being set up with a spare key inserted into the locking mechanism of the interlock safety device. This meant the machine was capable of operating at full speed with the doors open. This was observed just four months after an HSE Inspector had stopped work on the same two lathes because safety interlocks had been defeated. Further investigations revealed the company had provided workers with a spare interlock key to bypass the safety devices. Hendry Hydraulics Ltd, of Elgin, Morayshire, pleaded guilty to two breaches of the Use of Work Equipment Regulations 1998 and was fined a total of £20,000 (£10,000 for each offence). The company was also ordered to pay costs of £6,621.

(BMcN)