A former Pike River manager has defended his allegation that something was untoward about the ousting of the company's first chief executive.
The Royal Commission investigating the mine disaster yesterday heard the manager, Doug White, had said in an email that the chief executive Peter Whittall had ''done a number'' on his predecessor Gordon Ward.
Mr Whittall took over the job from Mr Ward in October 2010, seven weeks before the Pike River mine first exploded.
Mr White says he was made suspicious by the chair of the coal company's board, John Dow. Mr White told the commission he stands by his comments.
Whittall 'devastated'
A lawyer for former Pike River Coal chief executive Peter Whittall says he is devastated by critical comments about his character.
The Royal Commission investigating the mine disaster on Wednesday heard about an email written by former mine manager, Doug White, to a friend in which he described Mr Whittall as a 'git and a liar' responsible for many stuff-ups.
On Thursday in Greymouth, lawyer Stacey Shortall, told Mr White that Mr Whittall was devastated to learn for the first time these things said about him.
When Ms Shortall challenged Mr White to confirm he had never voiced such criticisms to Mr Whittall's face, despite working closely with him, Mr White agreed he had not.
He also agreed he had never made such statements to any of the company's board of directors, despite opportunities to do so.
Mr White said he would never have used such strong language in a personal email if he had known the message would be aired publicly, but he did not regret writing what he did.
