E.coli butchers fined pounds 2,250

The butchers business implicated in the world's worst E.Coli 0157 outbreak, in which 20 people died, was yesterday fined a total of pounds 2,250 for food hygiene and safety breaches.

The partnership of John Barr & Son had originally faced four charges and its trial was due to start yesterday at Hamilton Sheriff Court, near Glasgow. John Barr, his wife Elaine, and son Martin, had been due to face three charges each relating to alleged breaches of food hygiene regulations at their shop in Wishaw in 1996. But the charges against the three individuals were dropped. The firm pleaded guilty to two charges similar to the original four it had faced.