HSE chief defends rail crash inquiry

The head of the Health and Safety Executive today rejected allegations from rail maintenance firm Jarvis that the Potters Bar rail crash investigation was "politically motivated".

Bill Callaghan said he was disappointed that Jarvis executives had launched a "public smear campaign" following the inquiry into the disaster, which killed seven people in May last year.

Jarvis chiefs had claimed the findings were "based on no real evidence".

The row comes after six rail managers were charged with manslaughter following the Hatfield rail crash in October 2000, which killed four people.