Karen Thomson, Graham's partner, said “Two crimes have been committed here, first the criminal negligence of the companies that failed to ensure basic health and safety standards were in place which caused Graham's death, second the manner in which this and other such cases are dealt with by the police and the prosecution service."

Karen continued: "For the sake of other workers and their families we strongly hope that lessons will be learned. We hope that TRUTH, JUSTICE, RESPONSIBILITY AND HUMANITY will be present at the Fatal Accident Inquiry. ”

The F.A.I. will look into the circumstances of the death of Graham Meldrum and the manner in which the subsequent prosecution of some of the companies responsible was dealt with. Graham was killed in an incident at work on 12th July 2005 at Allied Bakeries on the Balmore Industrial estate in Glasgow.

Graham was killed while unloading a bread delivery truck that had a faulty tail lift, leaving behind a grieving partner, children and elderly parents. Another worker had previously reported the truck faulty but it was still in use when Graham was killed.

After a two years wait for action to be taken by the authorities Graham's family and friends took matters into their own hands and started pro-actively campaigning to have the companies responsible prosecuted. Following many letters, phone calls and a number of public demonstrations the case eventually came to court.

COMPANIES FOUND GUILTY

A series of trial dates were set at which the family attended only for them to be postponed for the convenience of the companies and to the further distress of the family. Eventually on 5th November 2007 at Glasgow Sheriff court two companies, ABF Grains (Allied Bakeries) and TNT Logistics were eventually found guilty of various breaches of Health and Safety legislation in relation to Graham’s death. The two companies were fined a paltry £19500 and £14000 respectively. A third company, Suzyline, the agency for which Graham was a contract driver, escaped prosecution.

Graham's family like other families has been denied the right to closure with the unacceptably long delays to bring this to a FAI. This comes in the wake of recent announcements by Kenny Macaskill, justice minister, that a major overhaul and investigation fronted by Lord Cullen will take place in the near future.

Graham's partner, Karen, and family and friends will attend the FAI - expected to last around 3 weeks - and invite members of the media to publicise the facts of this case and outcome of the FAI.

ACTION NEEDED

The Graham Meldrum Memorial Campaign state: "Families against Corporate killers (FACK) estimate that 1,700 people are killed annually in workplace incidents, that’s not including the thousands who die of occupational diseases. We refuse to use the word accident because over 70% of deaths and injuries are due to management health and safety issues.

Like F.A.C.K. we want government action to implement laws of corporate manslaughter for employers who negligently kill and maim workers. If they take the profits they must take the responsibility.

We are disgusted at the slashing of the health and safety executive budget meaning less inspections and what there is ineffective. We ask you to look after yourselves, and make sure you or your work colleagues, don’t do anything that is unsafe. We can't bring Graham or any of the countless others back, but together we can fight to stop other needless deaths.

DON’T LET EMPLOYERS GET AWAY WITH MURDER, IF YOU WANT TO HELP, SUPPORT OR SIMPLY GET IN CONTACT WITH US PLEASE DO AT.... GMMC (at) HOTMAIL.CO.UK

www.myspace.com/gmmemorialcampaign