A SOUTH Cumbrian zoo owner has appeared in court today charged with a string of health and safety breaches after a zookeeper was killed by a tiger.

Sarah McClay, 24, was attacked by the Sumatran tiger, named Padang, in May 2013 as she carried out her cleaning and feeding duties in a corridor of the tiger enclosure at South Lakes Safari Zoo, Dalton-in-Furness.

The Glasgow born animal lover was airlifted to hospital but had suffered insurmountable injuries and was pronounced dead on arrival.

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The zoo’s owner, David Gill, of Furness View, Broughton Road, Dalton-in-Furness, is charged with seven breaches of the Health and Safety Act - charges which are also faced by the park, formerly called South Lakes Wild Animal Park.

It is alleged on or before May 24 2013 he is said to have:
• Failed to ensure the health, safety and welfare at work of employees, including Miss McClay, arising out of or in connection with the keeping of big cats.
• Failing to ensure that persons not in its employment on the above date were not exposed to risk to their health and safety.
• Failed to carry out a suitable and sufficient risk assessment in relation to the health and safety of employees and non-employees on the same date.

He also faces two counts of failing to ensure the health and safety of employees working at height  in relation to an incident on July 18 in which a zookeeper fell from a ladder in the tiger enclosure.

Gill, who founded the zoo, is also alleged to have contravened two improvement notices.
He appeared at Preston Crown Court but did not enter any pleas to the charges.

Expert witnesses will be instructed prior to a plea and case management hearing which will take place at Manchester Crown Court on February 22, before High Court Judge Mr Justice Turner.

A trial, expected to last four weeks has been scheduled to take place at Preston Crown Court on June 7 2016.