Croydon tram crash victims’ families accuse key witnesses of using ‘sick note’ to avoid inquest evidence

Families of the Croydontram crash victims have accused key witnesses including the driver of using a "sick note" to avoid giving evidence at the inquest.

Driver Alfred Dorris was diagnosed with post-traumatic stress disorder in the wake of the 2016 crash, while John Rymer, managing director of the tram operating company, is said to be hampered by a serious physical illness.

Both men have been excused from giving evidence by Coroner Sarah Ormond-Walshe after medical reports were handed to her legal team.

The long-delayed inquest was due to begin last October but had to be delayed because of the coronavirus pandemic.

On Thursday, Andrew Ritchie QC, representing the five of the seven victims’ families, said they were no longer willing to accept assurances from the coroner’s team that the two men are right to be excused due to illness.

“Both have produced sick notes, meaning they don’t have to face the music”, he said.

“We have seen nothing about Mr Rymer so we don’t know what his ill health is, we don’t know the diagnosis, symptoms, suggested treatment or prognosis. It’s time the families were given a summary of the medical evidence.

“In Mr Dorris’ case, it is four and a half years after the accident, it is alleged he has post traumatic stress disorder

“It is not and has never been a permanent condition preventing someone from giving evidence. There are many treatment methods for it.

“The families don’t accept, even if a report last year said he had PTSD, that it’s incapable of being treated.”

Mr Ritchie asked the coroner to consider drawing up a summary of the two men’s ill health, to be handed to the families and their legal team, and for an independent expert to assess Mr Dorris' mental health.

Peter Skelton QC, representing Tram Operations Limited (TOL) – a subsidiary of FirstGroup – told the hearing: “TOL do not accept the trivialisation of Mr Dorris’s condition in any shape or form.

“It is extremely serious and his mental state is extremely precarious.”

He said giving evidence about the tram crash, which was the “trigger” for his PTSD, could make his condition worse, and rejected suggestions that Mr Rymer is using his health as a "cynical ploy" to avoid giving evidence.

Dane Chinnery, 19, Philip Logan, 52, Philip Seary, 57, Dorota Rynkiewicz, 35, and Robert Huxley, 63, all from New Addington, and Mark Smith, 35, and Donald Collett, 62, both from Croydon, were killed in the crash.

A tram from New Addington came off the tracks on a bend close to the Sandilands tram stop on November 9, 2016.

The coroner said on Thursday that the 13-week inquest will start on May 17, even if some people have to join the hearings remotely due to the pandemic.

A further pre-inquest review is due to be held in April.