Fifas Scotland made 'unsafe boilers', says former employee

May 23 2008 By Richard Mooney

Following on from our report on the Lanark homes that could be at risk from exploding boilers, Richard Mooney investigates the now defunct Fifas Scotland Ltd further in this EXCLUSIVE report.

FIFAS SCOTLAND manufactured boilers to an unsafe and poor standard, according to a former employee.

The former manager, who wishes to remain anonymous, said: “Products were of poor standards and as far as I’m aware the circuit board was not up to par. Some research and development plans were implemented but I don’t know what happened to it.

 “While I was at FIFAS, only 300-400 boilers were out and we had cases where they had problems with circuit boards and general functioning.

“However, they were trying to get it fixed so in all honesty, I'd say they were not safe yet as in my opinion, products like these need to be thoroughly tested before actually putting them to use.”

The manufacturer of the exploding boilers installed in Lanark homes was based at the Righead Industrial estate in Bellshill.

Kieth McGivern, Director of Fifas Ltd explained: “Whilst bearing the Fifas name, Fifas Scotland, was in fact a seperate company operating on an arms length "reseller, distributor" contract.”

“Following serious discreptancies in accounting/reporting by this "distributor" the contract as was terminated. Shortly after we terminated this distributorship Fifas (Scotland) Ltd went into liquidation.”  

He added: “Fifas Ltd have a substantial sum of money unpaid and boilers unaccounted for. Legal action concerning this is current.”