A MOTHER is still fighting for justice five years after her son was killed in a chimney fireball.

Yesterday, family and friends of steeplejack Craig Whelan marked the anniversary of his death in May 2002.

Wreaths were laid in his memory at about 4.30pm - about the time he died when a fireball engulfed the 150-metre chimney he was demolishing at a factory in Bolton, Greater Manchester.

Three bosses from the Carnaud Metal Box plant were fined a total of £17,000 for breaches of health and safety rules following the 23-year-old father of one's death.

The incident also claimed the life of Nottingham father-of-two Paul Wakefield.

However, manslaughter charges were dropped after the factory managers pleaded guilty in 2004 to a reduced charge of failing to disclose an employee's duty to take reasonable care for health and safety.

But, as Linda Whelan, 50, prepared to visit Crook cemetery in County Durham, along with Mr Whelan's brothers, Dean and Christopher, Mr Whelan's mother spoke of the anger she still holds about the verdict.

She is backing a new Corporate Manslaughter and Corporate Homicide Bill to make companies fully accountable for people killed at work.

"The pain of losing my son never goes away and I would hate for other families to go through what we have," she said.

"Craig's death could have been prevented - his company had responsibilities and didn't carry them out.

"This Bill is essential for justice and would act as a warning to companies. If it goes through, at least some good will come out of our tragedy, the loss of my son."

As a founder member of the group Families Against Corporate Killers, she has lobbied MPs about the Bill, which is working its way through parliament, and is urging others to do the same.

For more information on Fack or the new Bill, visit www.fack.org.uk