Detective Superintendent Dorian Lloyd, South Wales Police Specialist Crime Investigations Team has said:
“South Wales Police, together with the Health and Safety Executive, carried out a detailed investigation to piece together the sequence of events which led to the tragic deaths of Philip Hill, Charles Breslin, David Powell and Garry Jenkins at Gleision Mine in September 2011.
“From the outset our aim was to establish a full understanding of what happened in the mine not only for the investigation but also for the families.
“I would like to express my sincere gratitude to the families for their unwavering patience and support of the investigation team. They have conducted themselves with tremendous courage and dignity throughout.
“Also, on behalf of South Wales Police, I would like to thank all members of the local community for their support throughout the investigation process.”
The family have issued a statement saying:
“Today has been a difficult day for us all – as has been the past two and half years since we lost our loved ones at Gleision Mine.
“We miss Garry, Philip, Charles, and David dearly.
“Not a day has passed without wishing they were still with us.
“The events of September 15 2011 will stay with us for the rest of our lives.
“We would like to thank everyone who was involved in the rescue including Mines Rescue and all the rescue volunteers.
“We have received overwhelming support from the community and our police liaison officers.
“We are very grateful for their kindness and support throughout.
“Now that the trial has ended and we have heard for the first time what happened in the mine, we ask that we are given the privacy to move on with our lives – even though the men we lost will never be forgotten.”
