Atherstone on Stour Fire

A row has broken out over an investigation into the deaths of four fire fighters from Warwickshire. The men died in a warehouse fire in 2007 but yesterday their bosses were cleared of manslaughter.

The detective who dealt with the case told Central Tonight that the investigation was hampered by a union representing the fire service.

Fay Yates Badley the widow of Darren Yates Badley talks at a news conference held at Warwickshire Police headquarters this morning.

The four firemen died when they were sent into a burning building in Atherstone on Stour in 2007.

Yesterday their three bosses were cleared of their manslaughter by gross negligence.

Three senior fire officers have been cleared of the manslaughter by gross negligence of four of their colleagues who died after being sent in to fight a fire five years ago.

The prosecution said the senior officers - who were in charge of the fire fighting operation - shouldn't have sent the men in because there was no one inside the building to be saved.

Warwickshire Police has criticised the fire service for not being helpful enough during the investigation. The fire service has denied this and is now writing to the home office demanding an investigation into why the three men were charged.

Tim Woodward (centre) and Adrian Ashley (right) were acquitted of their charges with gross negligence manslaughter in February last year following a criminal inquiry into the deaths of four fire fighters

A third defendant, Paul Simmons (left), was acquitted of manslaughter on the directions of the judge part-way through the trial.

Detective Superintendent Ken Lawrence, the officer in charge of the Atherstone-on-Stour fire investigation, said the force had to jump though hoops to get to witnesses.

Two fire officers, Adrian Ashley and Tim Woodward, were today acquitted of manslaughter by gross negligence in the trial into the deaths of four of their colleagues who died at a warehouse blaze in 2007.

Warwickshire Fire and Rescue Service and the Chief Fire Officers Association are calling for a formal investigation into why Warwickshire fire fighters Timothy Woodward and Adrian Ashley were prosecuted for alleged manslaughter.

The decision follows the acquittal of the fire officers who faced four counts of manslaughter following the deaths of four of their colleagues at a warehouse fire in Atherstone-on-Stour, Warwickshire in 2007.

Two men have been found not guilty in the trial into the death of four fire fighters, Ashley Stephens, Darren Yates-Badley, John Averis and Ian Reid, who died at a warehouse blaze in 2007 in Atherstone on Stour.

Adrian Ashley and Tim Woodward were senior fire-fighters in command of the operation.

They were found not guilty today at Stafford Crown Court after being charged with manslaughter by gross negligence.

More to follow.

Jury has retired to consider verdict in trial of two senior firefighters

Ian Reid, John Averis, Darren yates Badley and Ashley Stephens died after the fire at a vegetable warehouse in Atherstone in Stour in Warwickshire in 2007.

Adrian Ashley and Tim Woodward have denied manslaughter by gross negligence over the men's deaths.

The judge told the jury today that the crown's case was that Adrian Ashley was negligent in sending the men in to the fire, and he and Tim Woodward were negligent in not withdrawing them from the fire. The case continues.