Gleision Mine Disaster Inquest Delayed Until 2026, Marking 15-Year Wait for Families

The families of the four miners who perished in a south Wales colliery disaster 13 years prior face a further wait until 2026 to receive clarity regarding the incident. Charles Breslin, 62, David Powell, 50, Phillip Hill, 44, and Garry Jenkins, 39, lost their lives on 15 September 2011, when the Gleision drift mine near Cilybebyll, Neath Port Talbot, was inundated with water. The catastrophe occurred following routine blasting, resulting in thousands of gallons of water flooding a tunnel where seven miners were present; three of them successfully escaped. Following an extended campaign, families received confirmation in 2022 that a comprehensive inquest into the fatalities would proceed. However, a pre-inquest hearing at Swansea’s Guildhall indicated that this would not take place until “the early part of 2026”. During the hearing, it was stated that “significant complexity” characterized the required documentation. Christian Howells, acting on behalf of the families, reported that the Coal Authority “believes there are 75,000 pages of written material,” a volume five times larger than initially projected. The tragic event transpired when 650,000 gallons of water inundated the mine section where the men were employed, following a controlled explosion intended to enhance air circulation. A strenuous two-day rescue operation aimed at saving the four trapped individuals garnered continuous news coverage globally, yet it ultimately yielded no success. John Kelvin-Davies, Mr Powell’s brother-in-law, expressed the families’ hope for answers regarding the incident, stating this “will be a big relief for the families.” He further commented, “We’ve got another two years before we have the inquest, but there is light at the end of the tunnel.” Lee Reynolds, who previously served as a surveyor for the Gleision mine, indicated that “some kind of end in sight” was now apparent for the families seeking resolutions. He remarked, “Life for the families is somewhat still on hold, which is compounding the matter. It’s moving now and there are very positive indications from the coroner.” Mavis Breslin, Mr Breslin’s widow, conveyed her “grateful” sentiment that progress was being made. She stated, “Fifteen years later, I’ve been beginning to wonder if I will survive to see the end of the inquest, at my age.” During the pre-inquest hearing, coroner Edward Ramsay affirmed that the comprehensive inquest would adopt an approach that is “full, fair and fearless.” He further assured, “I can reassure families there’ll be nothing cheap about this investigation.” He emphasized, “These inquests need a forensic and laser-like focus and what needs answering here is where the water came from and whether someone knew it was there.” He concluded by stating his “determined to get to the bottom on whether these documents can assist in answering fully how these men tragically died”. Nicholas Moss KC, who is advising the coroner, confirmed that three junior counsels have been appointed to assist with the extensive volume of documents. It was also disclosed at the hearing that the inquest experienced delays due to a personal connection involving the former coroner and a family member of an interested party. Furthermore, the hearing heard criticism directed at the initial investigation conducted immediately following the incident, which Mr Moss characterized as “a thorny issue.” He also mentioned that the coroner intends to examine the motivations of individuals involved in the post-incident investigations and ascertain if there had been “a deliberate attempt to cover up what had happened.” A decision remains pending regarding whether a judge will preside over the inquest, a request made by the families of the deceased men due to the incident’s complexity, history, and public interest. The Coal Authority, currently known as the Mining Remediation Authority, and the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) opposed the proposition of a judge-led inquest, whereas the owners MNS Mining Ltd, South Wales Police, and Neath Port Talbot council maintain a neutral stance on the matter. Additional pre-inquest review hearings are scheduled for 2025, preceding the comprehensive inquest in 2026.