Marlie Farm Firework Fire Litigation

East Sussex Fire and Rescue Service has decided to discontinue its appeal against Mr Justice Irwin’s judgment holding them liable in negligence and breach of statutory duty in respect of deaths and injury to fire fighters and police officers attending a fire which erupted following a massive explosion at a firework factory in East Sussex. He rejected a defence that the Service was immune from such personal injury claims and the judgment is an important analysis of the health and safety duties of a public employer.

Lawrence West QC and Adam Heppinstall represented one of the fire fighter claimants.

• See the Judgment here.
• See press coverage here.