Meg Burgess wall death: Builder George Collier jailed

A builder has been given a two year jail term after a three-year-old girl died when she was crushed by a collapsing wall.

Meg Burgess was walking home with her mother in Meliden, Denbighshire, in July 2008, when she died.

George Collier, 49, of Kinmel Bay, Conwy, denied manslaughter by gross negligence at Mold Crown Court.

But he was found guilty by jurors who had heard the evidence during a three week trial.

During the trial the jury heard that the wall failed after pressure from infill.

The defendant's company Parcol, said to be penniless, admitted health and safety charges but no separate penalty was made.

Collier was also disqualified from being a company director for seven years.

The prosecution said that Meg's death was caused by the defendant's gross negligence.

Bricklayers

She was making her way home from the shops at Ffordd Penrhwylfa, Meliden, with mum, Lindsay and baby brother Wilson, to buy materials for home baking.

As they walked along the pavement next to a cottage which was being renovated, a concrete block garden wall collapsed on to Meg.

Collier denied responsibility and said the wall was a garden wall, not a retaining wall, built by two bricklayers.

The prosecution claimed that Collier, who had 30 years' experience, should have realised it was a retaining wall.