Haut du Mont trial: 'Risk' taken not to do pressure test 'utterly reprehensible'

The 'risk' taken by three former gas workers to not do a pressure test before reintroducing gas to the network around Haut du Mont, in the hours before the fatal explosion, has been called 'utterly reprehensible'.

The prosecution has concluded its case in the trial of Neil Armstrong, Lee Ward, and John Wright and Island Energy regarding the blast which killed ten residents in December 2022.

The court heard that Mr Armstrong failed to ensure all the valves were closed and plugged when he visited Haut du Mont before reconnecting supply to the mains, and that he, Mr Ward, and Mr Wright chose to reintroduce gas before first conducting a pressure test to ensure there were no leaks.

No properties in Haut Du Mont were using gas in 2022, but gas was still flowing up to the pipes, stoppered by Emergency Control Valves, and plugs.

Over the five-week trial so far, the jury has been told that in the decommissioning process on Friday 9 December 2022, Mr Armstrong and Mr Wright cut pipework buried beneath the pavement on Commercial Buildings ‘in the wrong place’, taking a ‘guess’ without ‘sufficient excavation’.

Picture of excavation site

As a result, the nearby St Helier Yacht Club reported it had lost its gas supply.

The court heard that Mr Armstrong decided to reconnect the gas, despite there being no danger or emergency, with Advocate Simon Thomas saying the focus seemed to be on getting the kitchens at the Yacht Club reconnected, so the restaurant could serve meals that evening.

Mr Armstrong then went to Haut du Mont for around an hour to make sure all the gas valves were closed and plugged, but the court heard he was distracted by other matters.

The prosecution's case is that he left one of the valves unplugged, which led to gas leaking.

Advocate Thomas said it was an important task that he wasn't paying attention to, as he was distracted, and it was negligent of him not to check properly.

Advocate Thomas said:

"The allegation isn't that he knew he left a valve open, it's that he was negligent in the task of checking."

The jury heard that, due to this sense of urgency, no pressure test was carried out.

It is alleged Mr Wright was told by Mr Armstrong, who was ‘panicked and anxious’ to ‘f*** the test; get it (the gas) back on', despite two senior managers instructing him to do a test.

Mr Armstrong then lied and claimed he had done it.

Advocate Thomas added:

"It's accepted a test should've been done, (and) had it been done, an explosion wouldn't have happened.

"The risk of death is serious and obvious, and the prosecution says it's utterly reprehensible in the circumstances for gas engineers to take that risk, a risk that can be eliminated by a basic test.

"To fail to do that, just so a restaurant can be reconnected and serve its customers their meals that evening."

The court also heard that Mr Ward, even though he arrived later, at around 4pm on 9 December, to assist, 'actively lent himself to a job that was being rushed in a dangerous manner.'

Advocate Thomas said he could have asked for work to stop at any stage, but he didn't.

The Defence Advocate for Neil Armstrong has now begun his closing remarks.

Mr Armstrong, Mr Ward and Mr Wright all deny gross negligence manslaughter, while Island Energy denies breaches of the Health and Safety Law.

The trial continues.

Read our full coverage of the trial here:

Haut Du Mont trial: Workers 'clearly' not following Island Energy procedures, court hears

Haut Du Mont trial: Supervisor 'felt really responsible' when told of explosion

Haut du Mont trial: Island Energy ‘wouldn’t spend the money’ on vital safety training, court hears

Haut Du Mont trial: Safety Officer ‘would’ve stopped the job’ if told truth about test

Haut Du Mont trial: Worker told colleague he 'didn't test' gas main

Haut du Mont trial: Island Energy 'placed health and safety at risk'

Haut Du Mont Trial: 'It could explode', jury hears 999 calls

Haut Du Mont Trial: Worker checking gas valves spent almost 'entire' time on his phone

Haut Du Mont Trial: Gas works were 'sloppy, unsafe, and cut corners', allege prosecutors

Haut du Mont trial: Explosion 'an incident waiting to happen'

Haut du Mont trial begins