Christmas day dinner killed mother and left others seriously ill

A Christmas day dinner killed a mother of one and made over a dozen others seriously ill, as the food was unfit for customers to eat.

The diners payed £39.95 for the four course lunch at The Railway Hotel, Essex, Hornchurch, on Christmas day 2012.

Mother of one Della Callagher died after catching a severe case of food poisoning, she was among 33 people who fell ill with the bacteria known as Clostridium perfringens.

Former owner of the restaurant Ann McSweeney, 50, and ex- chef Mehmet Kaya, 37 deny serving food which was unfit for human consumption.

John Callagher, 53 told the court his wife started to fell unwell around 5:30 am on Boxing Day and described his wife's death as horrific as she started to shake and roll her eyes back whilst lying in bed  next to him.

Mr Callagher said: 'We both had the same symptoms, but Della got progressively far worse than me as we went throughout the day, with vomiting, diarrhoea and stomach pain.

John's mother in law made a visit to the house as Mr Callagher was too ill himself to take care of his wife. His mother in law dialled 111 first but when that didn't seem to work, she called 999 immediately.

His brother in law and mother in law arrived back from the hospital with Della after the paramedics said to John, "this looks like salmonella."

Mr Callagher stated "She got far far far worse. It was horrific."

Mrs Callagher was pronounced dead at the hospital on December 27^th at around 8:15am.

If you or someone in your family has been seriously ill, which wasn't their fault, our solicitors offer a 'no win no fee' policy. Please do not hesitate to contact us on 0203 206 1134 or email mf@broadgatelegal.co.uk .

Broadgate Legal

No win No fee Solicitors Shoreditch