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Reay says sorry, acknowledges error in relying on staff


Alan Reay: "I look back in time and wonder how all this happened."

Chris Hutching
Wed, 08 Aug 2012

Dr Alan Reay acknowledged today that in hindsight he should not have relied on an underling to carry out structural design of Christchurch's ill-fated CTV building.

The founder of Alan Reay Consulting was giving evidence at the Royal Commission hearing into the CTV building collapse in the February 2011 earthquake which killed 115 people.

In response to questions from one of the royal commission panel, Mr Reay said he was uncertain about what he should have done at the time.

“I look back in time and wonder how all this happened,” he said.

At the outset of the eight-week hearing Mr Reay had told the commission he had every faith in employee David Harding, who had carried out the design drawings.

But yesterday and today he acknowledged that after hearing more evidence he had developed doubts about strengthening elements of the design.

“I believed I was right to rely on him, but clearly that was the wrong decision.”

During several sessions of cross-examination, Mr Reay said that he was responsible as the head of the firm.

Yesterday he gave another apology to the families of the victims.
 

Chris Hutching
Wed, 08 Aug 2012
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Reay says sorry, acknowledges error in relying on staff
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