Company fined over Fisherman's Friends deaths

A company has been fined over the deaths of Fisherman's Friends singer Trevor Grills and band promoter Paul McMullen.

Express Hi-Fold Doors Limited was given the £30,000 penalty at Guildford Crown Court after being found guilty of a breach of health and safety laws.

Company boss David Naylor, 57, of Bridgnorth in Shropshire, was acquitted on Thursday of two charges of manslaughter by gross negligence over the incident, at the G Live theatre in Guildford on 9 February 2013.

Mr Grills, 54, a vocalist with the sea shanty group, and 44-year-old Mr McMullen suffered catastrophic injuries when a two-tonne stage door supplied by Mr Naylor's company fell and struck the pair.

Father-of-three Mr Grills, who sang for 16 years with the band from Port Isaac in Cornwall, had been due to perform at the venue that night, less than a week after recording their latest album. He died in hospital three days later.

Mr McMullen, from Disley in Stockport, was killed at the scene after being trapped from the waist down underneath the huge stage door.

The court heard the business barely traded in 2015 and was essentially liquidated.

In sentencing, the judge Philippa Whipple said the penalty had to act as a "deterrent".