Justice For Paul
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Video: Not guilty pleas in toddler death case
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| Paul and Andrea Gallagher |
THREE people charged over the death of a toddler in the Bahamas in 2002 have denied the allegations.
Two-year-old Paul Gallagher died after he was struck by a speedboat while he slept on a beach during a family holiday.
The speedboat was unmanned, unlicensed and unregistered.
Following almost five years of campaigning since the August 2002 tragedy, charges were brought against boat driver James Bain and craft owners Clifford Nottage and Evangeless Williamson.
They are all charged with manslaughter through negligence, while Williamson faces an additional charge of perjury.
Today all three men entered not guilty pleas to the charges. There will now be a trial in the Bahamas supreme court.
Parents Paul and Andrea Gallagher, of Repton Road, Orpington, learned of the pleas as they attended the House of Commons for the launch of a campaign for safer holidays abroad.
It is likely the Gallaghers will be called as witnesses at the trial, but Mrs Gallagher said: "I'm really happy. It's another step forward. We're getting close to justice, the justice we have fighting for for nearly five years.
"I know it's another ordeal to face the court room but it makes you strong.
"We know we will be standing up and speaking the truth and the jury will be listening to us."
Mrs Gallagher, who has two other children, had earlier said: "One way or the other we are going to be there.
"We have come so far, I could not let it go ahead and not be there.
"We have fought very hard and we have to see this through to the end and see that justice is done."
The Gallaghers were today attending the launch of Eden's Trust.
The organisation has been set up by Elli Galvani, whose daughter Eden was killed when a fire eating stunt at a Turkish holiday resort went fatally wrong.
Six-year-old Eden died of her burns and six others were injured in the blaze.
Eden's Trust was set up to encourage holiday companies and tour operators to take responsibility for the safety of their guests.
It will focus on promoting safety awareness tips for visitors to resorts and entertainments and will offer trauma counselling to those who have suffered a loss or injury while abroad.
Mrs Gallagher said: "Eden's Trust does mean a great deal to us, only when something so awful happens to one of your family do you realise how much you need the support of others who have gone through a similar thing as you feel so alone in a strange country.
"We hope the Trust will help others who are facing such terrible pain and grief to give them support and advice that we so needed at the time little Paul died.
"We also hope that it highlights our story and other people's stories and go some way to warn families of the dangers of going abroad.
"We want it to put pressure on the travel and tourism industries to take responsibility for the safety and well being of those who travel with them.
"To make it easier to get to the truth about what happens and to duly punish and remove the dangers for the future."
News Shopper has been campaigning for Justice for Paul since February last year.
4:54pm Thursday 19th July 2007
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CommentPosted by: April, Miami on 3:47am Tue 24 Jul 07
I go the Bahamas often..It is a safe Haven.
While I feel your pain, You can not make an accident safe!! You can take more precautions... You should have been close to your child,so that you could have taken or try to take the precautions.
I go the Bahamas often..It is a safe Haven.
While I feel your pain, You can not make an accident safe!! You can take more precautions... You should have been close to your child,so that you could have taken or try to take the precautions.
Posted by: John, London, UK on 6:24pm Tue 24 Jul 07
April from Miami is wrong to call the Bahamas a safe haven .... another child was killed just a few weeks ago .... On the same beach !
No April you are sadly wrong ... the boat operators in the Bahamas are still breaking the law ... How come children under 16 are still allowed to hire jet-ski's ... ????
April from Miami is wrong to call the Bahamas a safe haven .... another child was killed just a few weeks ago .... On the same beach !
No April you are sadly wrong ... the boat operators in the Bahamas are still breaking the law ... How come children under 16 are still allowed to hire jet-ski's ... ????
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