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Camden New Journal - by CHARLOTTE CHAMBERS
Published: 12 April 2007
 

Ralph Kennedy
‘Who’s to blame for my Barney’s death?’

Girlfriend’s wait to discover truth behind electrocution

THE girlfriend of a scaffolder electrocuted on a council estate has revealed how her life has been put on hold while she waits for an inquest to determine how her boyfriend died.
Kelly Ivory is searching for the truth behind the death of Ralph Kennedy, the father of her two children.
She will be at St Pancras Coroner’s Court on Monday for the inquest into his death in September last year. Mr Kennedy, known as Barney, died after touching a light fitting on the Mayford estate in Somers Town.
He had been working on the refurbishment of the estate and had agreed to do extra shifts so he could have enough money to buy a puppy for his son Bailey’s birthday.
Ms Ivory, who will be represented in court by a lawyer, said she could not talk about the case until after a verdict has been reached. But she added: “I just want to know who’s responsible for Barney’s death, for me and for the children. It’s been seven months and it’s such a long time to wait and see who’s to blame. You can’t get on with it because it’s all on hold.”
Members of trade union Unison are planning to turn out in force to support Mr Kennedy’s friends and relatives. They have also called for a thorough investigation into his death.
St Pancras coroner Dr Andrew Reid is in charge of the proceedings. A witness list seen by the New Journal reveals the Town Hall’s top brass will avoid tough questions.
Instead, the only council employees due to give oral evidence are Harry Yates, the Town Hall’s mechanical and services manager, and Mayford estate caretaker Thomas Sanders.
Mr Kennedy’s aunt, June Loughran, said: “It’s bad. You’d think someone would represent Camden that was higher up the pecking order.”
Other witnesses include Uthayakumar Packirisamy, a police community support officer thought to have suffered an electric shock at the same site, two health and safety experts and a police detective.
Contractors Gee Construction and Southern Electric will also be represented.
The inquest comes in the same month that Mr Kennedy’s mother, Pamela Khizer, was buried. Mrs Khizer’s funeral was held last week at St Dominic’s Priory Church in Gospel Oak, where, only six months earlier, she paid her last respects to her son. They have been buried together in the same plot in Finchley Cemetery.


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