Batley dad killed by flying gas canister at Ravensthorpe scrapyard

Jul 21 2009 By Dave Himelfield

A FATHER was killed by a flying gas canister which was being emptied for scrap, a court heard yesterday.

Dad-of-five Timmy Donaghue, 35, of Arncliffe Road, Batley, died when he was struck by a high pressure gas cylinder outside Arthur Brook scrapyard, Low Mills Lane, Ravensthorpe, on August 29 2008.

Scrap dealers Matthew Dean, 25, of Ouzelwell Lane, Thornhill Lees, and Phillip Jennings, 49, of Scafell Court, Hanging Heaton, deny manslaughter through gross negligence.

The pair had been emptying cylinders containing various gases to sell the canisters as scrap metal, Leeds Crown Court heard yesterday.

Jennings had been hacking at the canisters with a pickaxe while Dean had been using a hammer and spanner to open valves on other cylinders.

The court heard Dean had been opening an argon shield canister valve in Jennings’ van when the canister shot off in a cloud of gas and struck Mr Donaghue.

Mr Donaghue, who had come to borrow Jennings’ van for a conifer cutting job, was later pronounced dead at Dewsbury District Hospital.

He had died from haemorrhaging and shock resulting from pelvic injuries.