Bereaved family's concerns prompt explosion probe

Independent Inquiry Ordered into Jersey Explosion Response Following Families’ Complaint

A full independent investigation will be launched into the official response to the fatal explosion at the Haut du Mont flats in St Helier, Jersey, following formal complaints from grieving families.

Ten people tragically lost their lives in the early morning of 10 December 2022, when an explosion ripped through the residential block. More than a year on, relatives of the deceased have raised serious concerns over the handling of the emergency response and medical care provided in the immediate aftermath.

After the Government of Jersey’s internal complaints board initially ruled the matter outside its jurisdiction, the Chief Minister’s office has now agreed to commission an external inquiry. Officials have also issued an apology for delays in appointing an independent expert to lead the process.

The victims included several long-time residents of the area: Derek and Sylvia Ellis, Romeu and Louise de Almeida, Raymond Brown, Billy Marsden, Peter Bowler, Ken and Jane Ralph, and Kathleen McGinness. Ms McGinness, who lived in an adjacent building, survived the initial blast but later died in hospital on Christmas Day 2022.

Images released by the victims’ families show smiling faces of those lost, a poignant reminder of the lives cut short.

Three former employees of the island’s gas provider are facing charges in connection with the tragedy. In March this year, each was charged with 10 counts of gross negligence manslaughter. They are expected to appear for indictment at the Royal Court on 28 May.

The families submitted their formal complaint in November 2023. Despite receiving a response in December indicating an inquiry was under consideration, they reported a lack of progress until pushing again for updates earlier this year.

The complaints board has since confirmed that families will be involved in defining the scope of the inquiry. In a recent statement, it said: “While initially deemed outside the complaints board’s jurisdiction, the Chief Minister’s office has since committed to an independent, external investigation. Bereaved families will be supported in shaping the terms of reference for this inquiry.”

The inquiry marks a critical step for families seeking accountability and answers over the events surrounding one of Jersey’s most devastating incidents in recent memory.