A VALVE technician killed in the Piper Alpha disaster was yesterday

blamed for faulty workmanship which might have led to a gas leak and the

first explosion on the oil platform.

Occidental QC Mr John Mitchell said the disaster inquiry in Aberdeen

should be driven to the conclusion that employees from Score UK Ltd had

not properly fitted a pipe seal to a pressure safety-valve.

Two technicians from the Peterhead company were on the platform for

overhaul work -- Mr Alex Rankin, who has given evidence, and Mr Terry

Sutton, one of the 167 victims.

Mr Mitchell submitted that Mr Sutton had acted alone in the fitting of

the seals to the pipework where the first explosion is believed to have

occurred.

He said, however: ''There is no direct evidence concerning the fitting

of blind flanges by Terence Sutton. He was left to complete the task

himself. The conclusion that I seek is an inference to be drawn from the

other evidence concerning the condensate (oil-gas).

''In my submissions the inquiry should be driven to the conclusion

that the employees from Score did not properly fit a blind flange.''

This was rejected by QC Mr Michael Jones, appearing for the

Aberdeenshire valve firm, who said the truth might never be ascertained

and it was dangerous to speculate on one finding or another.

''The family of Terry Sutton should not be burdened for ever with the

taunt that he caused the Piper Alpha disaster -- and that as a result of

a finding based on speculation.''

Mr Jones said the inquiry's finding should be that there was no act or

omission on the part of Score or its employees which was ''causally

connected'' with the disaster.

''In particular Terence Sutton and Alexander Rankin stand to be

exonerated from blame,'' he maintained.

Earlier Mr Mitchell had also defended Occidental, which had been

attacked earlier in the week by the trades union group QC, Mr Hugh

Campbell, for its management attitude and safety policy.

Mr Mitchell said the allegations of management insensitivity and

incompetence were unwarranted and that it was ludicrous to say they

downgraded the disaster by referring to it as an incident.

Of the personal attack on Occidental's UK chairman, Mr John Brading,

he said it was totally unfounded and added he would not expect Mr

Campbell ''to have the courage to put it to Mr Brading inside or outside

the inquiry.''

The inquiry, which has already cost an estimated #4m, continues today

with part two, which seeks to establish lessons to be learned from the

disaster.