Following legal action taken by East Sussex Fire Authority, a judge at Hove Crown Court has fined St Michael’s Hospice £250,000 together with a further £165,000 costs following a fire in July 2015, started by one of the residents and in which three other residents died. The fine had been reduced by 30% as the hospice is a charity.
The hospice had admitted two fire safety breaches and the court heard from the prosecution that there was “no appropriate training for the evacuation of residents; holes in the ceilings allowed smoke to spread; locked exit doors could not be readily opened”.
In its defence, the hospice said it was unaware of the defects “ruthlessly exposed” by the fire, and it accepted “blameworthiness for failing to make the premises as safe as it should have been”.
In a statement on Wednesday, chairman of the hospice Irene Dibben, and chief executive Karen Clarke said: “We remain truly sorry for the pain and anguish caused by the fire. We also share the pain of our own staff and volunteers, many of whom are still coming to terms with the full devastation of the fire. We need to decide as an organisation the best way to settle the fine. In light of this, there will be no further comment at this stage.” They also added that: “In rebuilding the hospice after the fire, we have ensured that it is one of the safest in England and Wales.”
Following this terrible incident, lessons have clearly been learned and put into effect. The hospice is supported by many in Rye and, together with its shop in the town, it also runs a number of fund-raising events each year.
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