Pyranha Mouldings Limited, sentenced for corporate manslaughter

Pyranha Mouldings Limited, sentenced for corporate manslaughter and fined £200,000, plus costs of £90,000

Following a trial at Liverpool Crown Court, the trial Judge passed sentence today whilst sitting at the Royal Courts of Justice. Company director Peter Mackereth was sentenced to nine months in prison suspended for two years and fined £25,000 and Pyranha Mouldings Ltd. were fined £200,000. Pyranha Mouldings Ltd. and Peter Mackereth were also asked to pay costs of £90,000 between them.

Alan Catterall was a supervisor for Pyranha Mouldings Ltd., a company which manufactures plastic kayaks and canoes. On the morning of 23 December 2010 a fault developed on one of the ovens used to create the kayak moulds, which was then out of service whilst maintenance work was carried out.

Once the initial fault was fixed Mr Catterall began working on the machine, however the oven was turned back on with Mr Catterall inside. Mr Catterall had no means of escape and no alarm, due to the unique design of the oven which had been developed by Pyranha Mouldings Ltd. Mark Auty, senior specialist prosecutor with the CPS said, “Mr Catterall’s death was caused by the serious failings of his employer, Pyranha Mouldings Ltd. This wasn’t just a tragic situation; it was a tragedy waiting to happen. Mr Catterall’s death is all the more upsetting because it was avoidable.

“By choosing to take on the design and installation of the machine, Pyranha Mouldings assumed responsibility for its safety. However, the machine clearly endangered the safety of those working with it, including Mr Catterall.

“By their verdict, the jury have decided that Pyranha Mouldings Ltd is responsible for the death of Alan Catterall. This is a sad and distressing case, and our thoughts are with the family of Alan Catterall.”