Three former Island Energy employees have been charged over the deaths of 10 islanders in an explosion in 2022.

Neil Armstrong (56), Lee Ward (57), and John Wright (59) have each been charged with 10 counts of gross negligence manslaughter.

The trio were charged at the States of Jersey Police headquarters in St Helier this week.

All three men were working for the gas company Island Energy at the time of the blast on 10 December 2022.

The separate charges relate to the deaths of 10 Haut du Mont residents who died following the explosion.

Raymond Brown (71), Kathy McGinness (73), Billy Marsden (62), Ken Ralph (72), Jane Ralph (71), Peter Bowler (72), Derek Ellis (61), Sylvia Ellis (73), Romeu De Almeida (67) and Louise De Almeida (64).

Detective Superintendent Alison Fossey, who has led the States of Jersey Police investigation, says these charges are the culmination of a two-year investigation.

"[It] has been the largest and most complex in the States of Jersey Police’s 70-year history."

Neil Armstrong, Lee Ward, and John Wright will appear in Jersey’s Magistrate’s Court on March 14 2025.

Jersey Magistrate’s Court

Operation Spire began on 10 December 2022 when an explosion occurred on Pier Road at a block of Andium flats just before 4:00 am.

Nine islanders were declared dead in the first few days, with Kathy McGuiness becoming the 10th victim on Christmas Day, after passing away in hospital.

Two criminal investigations into the blast commenced, running side-by-side. The probe by the Health and Safety Inspectorate is ongoing.

Police say their work has involved 2,024 lines of enquiry followed, 1,158 statements taken and 1,988 exhibits collected.

Three men were first arrested in August 2023 on suspicion of gross negligence manslaughter before being released on bail.

The Operation Spire investigation team continued to gather material and undertake further enquiries before passing their case files to the Law Officers’ department in July 2024 for charges to be considered. 

Jersey Police Headquarters

Since the tragedy, Blocks G, I and J of Haut du Mont have been demolished and Pier Road has reopened.

Andium Homes is working to refurbish the remaining flats. 

The area where the explosion happened is being given to the government to create a memorial honouring those who lost their lives.