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Charges Against Fish Bar Owner Headed to Court

By Dan Flynn and Suzanna Schreck

The former owner of the Llay Fish Bar will be back in the magistrates' court on Dec. 9.
Ramazan Aslan, 35, is charged with nine counts of breaching food hygiene regulations. Aslan, who is free on unconditional bail, will likely see is case committed to crown court.
Charges were filed against the former "chippy bar" owner after an outbreak of E. coli O157:H7 was linked to the Llay Fish Bar.  
The Wrexham County Borough Council launched an investigation into conditions at the "take-away chip shop" after British media focused on the story of two of the four victims, Karen Morrisroe-Clinton and her four-year-old daughter Abigail Hennessy.
Both mother and daughter were hospitalized.  Abigail's release came weeks before the 32-year old mother, who fell into a coma lasting for five weeks.  She suffered from kidney failure and seizures, and was comforted by her husband playing tapes of their newborn baby.
After a short closure, Aslan re-opened the Llay Fish Bar, but later sold it.  Before he was charged he claimed to be in compliance with inspections.  He said there was no proof that the four people were infected with E. coli at the Llay Fish Bar.
The barrister for the Wrexham Council, Anthony Vines, says the charges against Aslan are too serious and complex to be tried before a magistrate.
The crown court is a senior court for both England and Wales with both original and appellate jurisdiction for criminal cases.
"Chip shops" have been part of the British food scene since 1860.  They sell cod and haddock fried in a batter of breadcrumbs along with slab-cut potatoes.  Accompaniments include salt and vinegar.
Since it initiated its investigation, the only venue the Wrexham Council is known to have investigated is the Llay Fish Bar.
After she awoke from the induced coma, Karen Morrisroe-Clutton said she woke up because she heard her baby on those tapes.

Full post as published by Food Safety News on October 26, 2010 (boomark / email).