Gleision mine deaths: Manager Malcolm Fyfield given trial date

Malcolm Fyfield faces four gross negligence manslaughter charges

A mine manager is to face trial next year over the deaths of four miners in a Swansea Valley colliery.

Malcolm Fyfield, 57, was manager of the Gleision drift mine near Cilybebyll, which flooded in September 2011.

David Powell, 50, Charles Breslin, 62, Philip Hill, 44, and Garry Jenkins, 39, died in the incident.

Mr Fyfield is charged with four counts of gross negligence manslaughter. A provisional trial date has been set for 24 March 2014.

The company which ran the mine at the time, MNS Mining Limited, also faces four charges of corporate manslaughter.

Mr Fyfield remains on conditional bail after the hearing at Swansea Crown Court.

He and representatives of MNS Mining Limited are due back at the court on 16 December for a plea and case management hearing.

Judge Mr Justice Wyn Williams, who set the provisional trial date, is to preside over the eventual trial.

The trial is expected to run for eight weeks with a break at Easter.