THE barrister sacked by the owners and operators of a power station during a high-profile inquest into the deaths of two engineers in an explosion at one of their plants has claimed it is inappropriate for Mr Justice Sears to hear a civil case against him.
Michael Ford was due to appear before Mr Justice Sears in the High Court yesterday to answer allegations that he breached the confidentiality of his clients and neglected his duty as their counsel.
The barrister, who now lives in England and who, it was revealed in court yesterday, had filed for bankruptcy, failed to turn up at the hearing. The court heard he had sent a series of faxes from an address in Gloucestershire seeking to have the case adjourned.
Mr Justice Sears told the hearing that among the faxes was an allegation that he had said in open court there was no defence to the claims. As a consequence, Mr Ford felt it inappropriate that he should hear the case.
Dismissing the request, Mr Justice Sears said he had not ''predetermined any issue''. He also denied making any such statement in open court.
The accusations against Mr Ford relate to a period last year when he was employed by China Light and Power (CLP) and the Castle Peak Power Company (CAPCO).
He represented them at the inquest into the deaths of Yip Ka-pui, 41, and Wong Kwong-yu, 38, who were killed in the blast at Castle Peak power station in August 1992.