Gas leak test could have prevented Jersey flats explosion, expert tells court

A gas industry expert has told a court that a gas pressure test carried out before the Haut du Mont explosion would have prevented the disaster that claimed 10 lives.

Chris Clarke, a gas expert from the UK, was giving evidence at the trial of gas workers Neil Armstrong, John Wright and Lee Ward, who deny 10 charges of gross negligence manslaughter.

Island Energy is also on trial, having denied health and safety offences in connection with the incident.

The workers had been excavating gas pipes beneath the Haut du Mont flats in La Collette on 9 December 2022, one day before the explosion.

The court has previously heard that the men were working to decommission a gas pipe supplying the flats. The pipe was cut incorrectly, disrupting supplies to other properties in the area.

Earlier evidence included an interview with Mr Wright, who told police he had been instructed to falsely claim that a pressure test had been carried out. Such a test is designed to identify leaks in a gas system.

Asked by Mike Preston, representing Island Energy, whether failing to conduct the test was the most serious error, Mr Clarke replied that it "would've been the one that would've prevented this [explosion] happening".

The 10 people who died in the explosion on 10 December 2022 were Peter Bowler, 72; Billy Marsden, 62; Derek Ellis, 61; Sylvia Ellis, 73; Ken Ralph, 72; Jane Ralph, 71; Romeu De Almeida, 67; Louise De Almeida, 64; Raymond Brown, 71; and Kathy McGinness, 73.

Mr Clarke also told the court that Island Energy's instructions for cutting gas pipes were clear and adequate.

"I think it's clear that those procedures weren't followed," he said.

The expert was also questioned about the accuracy of plans used by gas workers. While he acknowledged that plans within the gas industry can sometimes lack accuracy, he said those covering the La Collette area were "generally accurate" but "not precise".

The jury was further told that the excavation made to reach the pipes was too small.

Mr Clarke said the opening should have been approximately twice its size to allow four bags to be fitted, as required by Island Energy's procedures.

"Bagging off" is a technique used by engineers to temporarily stop the flow of gas through a live pipeline.

The trial is continuing.