THE Hampshire mother of nine-year-old Elizabeth Bee, who drowned during a school outing, today hit out at her daughter's school for causing "three years of hell".

Lesley Bee condemned Boundary Oak School's lack of compassion after a judge yesterday fined the school £25,000 for breaking health and safety guidelines.

The teacher in charge of the tragic trip in Portsmouth Harbour, Paul Dove, 67, was fined £2,000.

Elizabeth Bee died when a 14ft motor boat carrying nine pupils, including her twin sister Victoria, capsized after a catalogue of errors.

Wiping her tears Mrs Bee, 45, said she felt "devastated" that it had taken so long for the private Fareham school to admit its part in the tragedy.

"They appear to have played games with me and put me through three years of hell for no foreseeable reason. As if losing your nine-year-old daughter isn't enough."

Mrs Bee, of Waterlooville, added: "All I ever wanted was for them to say sorry. The amount of fines does not matter.

"Nothing will bring Elizabeth back. My life and my family's lives have been ruined - but we can now try and move on."

Portsmouth Crown Court heard how, on September 16, 1999, Dove took the nine children out on the 14ft dory as a treat after sailing lessons had been cancelled earlier due to bad weather. He ignored Royal Yachting Association guidelines that recommend one adult should supervise a maximum of six children.

Sarah Whitehouse, prosecuting, said the children were told to sit in rows of three but four or five got up when Dove began doing figure-of-eight turns in the water.One fell overboard but was pulled back into the vessel. Moments later the boat's motor cut out and the children had to paddle.

At the same time a jellyfish Dove had put in a container tipped over causing a commotion among the children. The boat then capsized and Dove carried out a headcount in the water.

It was only ten minutes later he realised Elizabeth was missing when her twin sister asked where she was, the court heard.

Elizabeth was found unconscious under the boat.

Miss Whitehouse said the school was found:

Not to have carried out an adequate risk assessment of its sailing activities based at the Royal Naval Sailing Centre in Whale Island.

Not to have a safety policy in relation to sailing.

Not to monitor and review safety issues in relation to sailing.

Not to have an adequate maintenance procedure for the school's fleet of boats.

Dove was fined after pleading guilty in April to failing to take adequate precautions to protect the health and safety of people in his care. The school was fined £20,000 for failing to ensure the safety of its pupils and £5,000 for failing to ensure the safety of Dove. William Norris, mitigating on behalf of Boundary Oak Trust Ltd, said the school took safety seriously and the tragedy was due to a fatal combination of unforeseeable circumstances.

These included inadequate supervision and a failure to prevent the boat from overturning. He said water had seeped in through a gap in the hull of the boat due to an insecure fitting.

Tim Concannon, mitigating on behalf of Dove, said: "Nothing that Mr Dove can say or do can alter the fact that after 40 years as a teacher with an unblemished career a child under his supervision died."

Sentencing Judge Tom MacKean said: "Sailing teaches self-reliance, respect for the sea and it encourages people to enjoy a hobby they will find interesting, rewarding and satisfying later on in life.

"Those who are responsible also have a duty that the very highest standards of health and safety are in place. In this respect, both Mr Dove and the school were found wanting."

After the case the school's chairman of governors, Tim Allen, said: "We would like to extend our deepest sympathy to Mrs Bee and the other families involved. It was a tragic accident."

Elizabeth would have celebrated her 13th birthday this Sunday.