by Tricia Jamieson

tjamieson@thekmgroup.co.uk

A widow has spoken of her anguish at a five-year wait for an inquest into her husband’s death.

Train driver Douglas Lynch died following a fire on a train in 2005. He suffered 90 per cent burns.

His widow Denise, 52, of Bridge Street, Folkestone, said: “I am in limbo still.

“People say you should build your life up but it is very hard to start moving on.

“After he died I was told it could be three years before an inquest, but now it is more than five years.

“A date has been set for the hearing next Febraury by which time it will be nearly six years after he died.

“All I have ever wanted is justice for Dougie. We owe him that.”

Mrs Lynch believes the delay was down to a report from the Health and Safety Executive.

Married to Mr Lynch for 30 years, she has been supported through her ordeal by her sons, Michael and Stephen, and six grandsons.

She works as an auxiliary nurse at the William Harvey Hospital and has also been supported by colleagues there.

“I still find it hard,” said Mrs Lynch, who admitted there had been times when she had not wanted to answer her phone or leave her house.

“It is the way I lost Dougie which was so unnecessary. He was very safety conscious and always said I would never lose him at work.

“I am not the same person I was before Dougie died. I have six grandsons but can’t cope with more than one at a time now – it is too much for me.”

On the advice of her family she bought a dog, Hamish, for company and to force herself to go out.

Mrs Lynch hopes that following the inquest there will be a prosecution.

“I don’t want anyone to go to jail but someone must be held responsible,” she said.

“Someone has to be accountable for his death.”

Mrs Lynch said she was glad there would be a full jury inquest with a number of witnesses called.

She paid tribute to her husband’s union, the Transport and General Workers, for the help they had given her in providing legal services.

Her husband was a keen golfer at Etchinghill club where members play a memorial match every year and Mrs Lynch presents the prizes.

Matthew Hall, spokesman for the Health and Safety Executive, said: “We are unaware of anything outstanding.

“We have provided everything to the coroner that the coroner required. We are still investigating the incident.”

Claire Blainey, coroner’s officer for north west Kent cororner Roger Hatch, said she was unable to comment on the delay.

For more from Ashford, Folkestone and the surrounding areas, buy your weekly Kentish Express.