E.coli butcher prepares to re-open

John Barr, the butcher whose shop was linked to the E. coli 0157 outbreak in Scotland which claimed 18 lives, last night prepared to re- open for business on Thursday.

But Paul Santoni, the lawyer for some of those hit by Europe's worst outbreak of the infection, called the re-opening "surprising". The decision to resume business was announced yesterday by Mr Barr's lawyer, George Moore, who said the butcher had worked closely with environmental officials and had received their agreement to open again. Mr Barr, 51, is awaiting trial on a charge of culpable and reckless conduct in relation to the alleged supply of contaminated meat.