Court Date For Death Fire Home Owners

The owners of a care home where 14 elderly residents died in a fire will appear in court next month. Thomas Balmer, 59, wife Anne , 58, and their son Alan , 32, are charged with breaches of health and safety legislation. Their firm, Balmer Care Homes Ltd will face the same charges. The blaze at Rosepark care home in Old Edinburgh Road, Viewpark, Lanarkshire, on January 31, 2004, led to one of the highest fire death tolls in Scotland in recent years. Heavy smoke from the fire killed 14 of the 43 people staying at the home – 13 women and one man, with the oldest being 98.

The Balmer family face charges under the Health and Safety at Work Act (1974), and contraventions of the Management of Health and Safety at Work Regulations 1992 and 1999.

The trio also face charges under the Electricity at Work Regulations 1989, and the Fire Precautions (Workplace) Regulations 1997.

A preliminary hearing has been scheduled for September 13 at the High Court in Glasgow.

The family previously appeared on petition at Hamilton Sheriff Court on December 9, 2005. At that time the Balmers said they would welcome a trial as a chance to answer the charges laid against them.

Mr and Mrs Balmer, of Bothwell, Lanarkshire, were among mourners who attended a memorial service four months after the blaze.

The tragedy led to a major review of fire safety practices in care homes.

The Scottish Executive ordered safety checks in all 1800 care homes and from May last year all new residential care homes legally had to include a sprinkler system.

Rosepark re-opened in September 2004 and many of the residents who survived the fire were moved back into the home.