EMOTIONS over the Beaconsfield tragedy reached new heights yesterday as the mining company apologised to the family of miner Larry Knight for the hurt it had caused them in court.
Community leaders said they wanted to put behind them the roller-coaster of the 2006 rockfall which was first feared to have cost three lives, before two miners were found alive and rescued.
But the Knight family said they were stung on Tuesday by the Beaconsfield Gold company's surprise withdrawal from the long-awaited inquest on the first day of substantive hearings.
Larry Knight's widow, Jacqui, came to the inquest saying she did not want any other mining family to experience the pain they had known. Soon after, she and her brother-in-law, Shane Knight, watched the mine's team walk out of the court. Shane Knight said it appeared the company had turned its back on Larry's family, devastating them.
In response, the Beaconsfield chief executive, Bill Colvin, called Mr Knight to apologise.
"It was never our intention to cause distress to the Knight family and I am deeply sorry if that has been the case," Mr Colvin said.
"We understand that this is a difficult time for the family and they are seeking closure through the inquest."
Mr Knight had nothing further to say, said a spokeswoman for his legal advisers, Maurice Blackburn.
The company's lawyers withdrew after senior counsel, David Neal, said its managers were heroes of the rescue, who were being scandalously blamed for the accident. Beaconsfield Gold will only come back for the evidence from mine executives.
Mr Colvin said the company was choosing not to prolong the process by cross-examining witnesses, but was co-operating fully with the inquest.
As Mr Colvin telephoned Mr Knight, the coroner, Rod Chandler, and other legal counsel were briefed at the mine, before donning safety gear and going down the same shaft that carried Todd Russell and Brant Webb back up to safety on May 9, 2006.
A Beaconsfield Uniting Church pastor, Frances Seen, said the inquest had brought the community back on its toes again. She did not understand why the company had stepped aside from the hearings. "My only thought is they've done it to speed things up," Mrs Seen said.
West Tamar Mayor, Barry Easther, said the community wanted the inquest to bring finality. It remained very proud of its mine.
Beaconsfield's RSL secretary, Colin Smee, pointed to the new sports pavilion, part of a $4 million federally funded community makeover in response to the rockfall. "We don't talk about it now," Mr Smee said.
Mr Russell and Mr Webb will give evidence today when the inquest resumes.