Legionella court case is dropped for three firms

Charges brought against three out of five companies following an outbreak of Legionnaires’ disease in the west of Edinburgh have been dropped.

The charges - under the Health and Safety at Work Act - accused them of failing to ensure the safety of their employees affected by exposure to legionella bacteria.

It was alleged the offences took place at premises occupied by The North British Distillery Company in Wheatfield Road in Edinburgh’s Gorgie area between January 2009 and December 2012.

All pleaded not gulty at Edinburgh Sheriff Court.

The offences were said to involve the cleanliness of cooling towers.

At a hearing yesterday, the charges levied against the North British Distillery Company, Pera Services Ltd and Chemtech Consultancy Ltd were withdrawn.

Macfarlan Smith Ltd and Ashland Industries UK Ltd maintained their pleas of Not Guilty.

A further First Diet hearing has been fixed for July 30.

Four people died in 2012 and a further 92 infected in an outbreak of Legionnaires Disease in the area 2012.

The source was never traced and no prosecutions ever brought.