Drayton Park has been fined £1m after a girl died on a ride, but the penalty will never be paid as it is in administration it has been reported.
In May 2017 during a school trip 11-year-old Evha Jannath was on the Splash Canyon rapids ride at Drayton Manor when she was "propelled" into the water and an inquest jury in 2019 had concluded that the little girl who could not swim, died accidentally. Drayton Manor Park Ltd previously admitted a breach under Section 3 of the Health and Safety at Work Act, after the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) brought the prosecution. Richard Matthews QC, representing Drayton Manor Park Ltd, told the hearing the park had co-operated with the HSE investigation fully and had no previous convictions.
During a sentencing hearing at Stafford Crown Court on Thursday, Mr Justice Spencer said, "This was an utterly tragic waste of a young life…there was no prospect of the fine being paid" given the company operating the park at the time had since gone into administration.
"It is important that lessons are learned and the seriousness of the defendant company's failing in this case is marked by an appropriate punishment," Mr Justice Spencer said.
Between 2011-2013, park records show there were four instances of people falling into the water at the ride before it was closed following Evha's death demonstrating longstanding negligence and breach of safety guidelines.
Former Leicester East MP Keith Vaz, in his statement to the BBC, said, "No-one has lost their jobs as a result of this, the company will not pay this fine, no individual has said they are responsible, but there remains a hole in the heart of the family," he added.
