Catalogue of failures led to wall collapse which killed girl, 3

Jun 6 2008 by Lorna Hughes, Liverpool Daily Post

A THREE-YEAR-OLD girl died after a wall “that should never have been constructed the way it was” collapsed on her as she walked alongside it with her family.

Chloe Jackson, of Clover Drive, Birkenhead, was killed in June, 2006, as she walked past the 9m-long boundary wall of a house on Hoylake Road, Birkenhead, with her mother, Claire, and 18-month-old sister, Lily-May.

An inquest at Wallasey Town Hall yesterday heard police, council building officials and civil and structural engineers who investigated found a catalogue of failures in the construction of the wall, which did not have planning permission.

But the Crown Prosecution Service later concluded there were a number of reasons why it could have collapsed, and there was insufficient evidence to prosecute any individuals in connection with Chloe's death.

The hollow concrete block wall was built around eight to ten years ago, before the current owner purchased the property.

Coroner’s officer Arthur Flower said Chloe, her mother and younger sister had just left a general store at the corner of Hoylake Road and Gautby Road when the incident occurred.

He said: “Claire Jackson was pushing her youngest daughter in a pram and Chloe was walking alongside.

“As they approached the wall, Chloe was on the inside of the pavement and her mother was on the outside, nearest to the road.

“Without warning the wall collapsed, falling in one complete piece and completely covering Chloe.”

DS Greg Simon, who was called to the scene after the incident, said numerous people had report- ed hearing a “loud bang” as the wall collapsed, but that Chloe's mother was the only eyewitness.

He said: “In short, the wall was 9m long and 10cm thick, with some additional piers at the back. There were a number of problems inherent to the construction of the wall.

“The wrong bricks had been used – they were too light – the wall was too high and there was an additional load on it from the close proximity of a Leylandii tree and building materials against the wall.”

The inquest heard the wall was built without any steel support rods, and had reportedly been “leaning towards the road” for some time.

Coroner Christopher Johnson said: “It is clear to me that this wall was going to collapse at some point in time and, tragically, that happened when Chloe was walking alongside it.

“It is particularly clear to me that the wall should never have been constructed in the way it was in the first place. It seems to have broken every guide.

“It’s difficult to conclude that the tragic events that occurred could be considered to be accidental in the general understanding of the word. It would not be right to Chloe's memory to say that she died as a result of an accident.”

The coroner recorded a narrative verdict that Chloe died “from the injuries she sustained when a garden wall collapsed on top of her”.

Speaking after the inquest, Chloe's mother, Claire, who was supported by members of her family and friends, said: “As far as I'm concerned, I’ve got satisfaction because I know that wall should never have been built in the first place.”