Swimmer lay at bottom of leisure centre pool for five minutes as lifeguards ‘stood chatting’, trial hears

The Newry Crown Court jury of four men and eight women heard that Christopher Rodgers was swimming lengths underwater at Orchard Leisure Centre, Co Armagh, on April 7, 2017, when the 20-year-old tragically died from oxygen starvation.

On trial facing a single charge that they were in breach of their duty to others on 7 April 2017, in that they “failed to take reasonable care for the health and safety of other persons who may be affected by your acts or omissions at work”, are: Cathal Forrest-McVeigh (35), from Dunamony Road in Dungannon; William Holden (26), from Unshinagh Lane in Portadown; and James Monaghan (26), from Folly Lane in Armagh.

Formally opening the case, prosecuting KC Liam McCollum told the jury that “rather uniquely” in this case they would see what happened as most of the tragedy had been captured by CCTV cameras.

Four CCTV clips were played where the jury saw that after Mr Rodgers had swum two lengths of the pool underwater, he was midway through a third…

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Independent.ie