A council officer responsible for the maintenance of an air-conditioning plant thought to be at the centre of a massive outbreak of Legionnaires' disease in Britain has been suspended, it emerged today.
The technical manager at Barrow Borough Council was suspended on full pay "to minimise contact with other officers" while investigations into the source of the outbreak were ongoing.
Today the chief executive of the council said it was co-operating fully with the police and the health and safety executives but was not in a position to reveal details about if the plant has been properly serviced.
The council had been notified early on Thursday afternoon that there was a possible outbreak of the potentially fatal form of pneumonia and closed down the Forum 28 arts and civic centre three hours later.
Speaking at a news conference at Furnace General Hospital, council chief executive Tom Campbell said he would accept ultimate responsibility if it were proved that any council worker's negligence was to blame.
He said: "A man has died and if it were established that in any way an employee for whom I was responsible was negligent I will carry that burden to the grave."
PA