Janette Orr Ref: 26741-03A SWINDON survivor of the Paddington rail disaster has welcomed plans to introduce an offence of corporate killing.

The Government today publishes its long awaited draft corporate manslaughter bill, which would introduce a criminal offence when death takes place because of management failure.

The current manslaughter law has faced mounting criticism for making it difficult to bring companies to account.

Under existing laws, the outcome of a case depends on whether a director or senior manager of a company can be found liable.

A new offence of corporate killing will make it easier to prosecute a company for homicide.

Janette Orr, 41, of Abbey Meads, pictured, suffered foot, back, and neck injuries in the crash and is still suffering the effects of post traumatic stress.

"I think it would be good to have the law.

"When someone has done something wrong they should be held responsible.

"It is something that could be used in extreme circumstances and each case has to be judged on its own merits. However, I do think it is something which we need to look at and put in

place," she said.

A corporate manslaughter law was part of Labour's 1997 election manifesto.

However, Labour delayed the proposals amid business unease. A draft Bill was included in last year's Queen speech, although the blueprint is not a commitment to bring in a new law.

The Government will now launch pre-legislative scrutiny of its plans before deciding whether or not to proceed with legislation.

Janette, who was also a victim of last year's Boxing Day tsunami in Thailand, said she was angry it took the Govern-ment so long to act.

A total of 31 people were killed in the October 1999 Paddington rail crash when a Thames train went through a red light and collided with a Great Western express train.

Mark Hookham