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| Nursing home blaze inquiry opens | Nursing home blaze inquiry opens |
| (about 7 hours later) | |
| A fatal accident inquiry into a nursing home fire in Lanarkshire, in which 14 elderly residents died, will get under way later. | A fatal accident inquiry into a nursing home fire in Lanarkshire, in which 14 elderly residents died, will get under way later. |
| Sheriff-Principal Brian Lockhart will hear evidence about the blaze at the Rosepark Home in Uddingston in 2004. | Sheriff-Principal Brian Lockhart will hear evidence about the blaze at the Rosepark Home in Uddingston in 2004. |
| The residents, aged between 75 and 98, died from inhalation of smoke after the fire broke out in the early hours of the morning. | The residents, aged between 75 and 98, died from inhalation of smoke after the fire broke out in the early hours of the morning. |
| It is expected the inquiry will last between four and six months. | |
| A total of 370 potential witnesses have been identified. | A total of 370 potential witnesses have been identified. |
| It has taken almost six years to begin the judicial inquiry, because at first prosecutors tried to bring charges against three directors of the company which ran the nursing home. | It has taken almost six years to begin the judicial inquiry, because at first prosecutors tried to bring charges against three directors of the company which ran the nursing home. |
| FIRE VICTIMS Annie (Nan) Stirrat, 82Julia McRoberts, 90Robina Burns, 89Isabella MacLeod, 75Margaret Lappin, 83Mary McKenner, 82Ellen (Helen) Milne, 82Helen (Ella) Crawford, 85Annie Thomson, 87Margaret McWee, 98Thomas Cook, 95Agnes Dennison, 95Margaret Gow, 84Isabella MacLachlan, 93 | FIRE VICTIMS Annie (Nan) Stirrat, 82Julia McRoberts, 90Robina Burns, 89Isabella MacLeod, 75Margaret Lappin, 83Mary McKenner, 82Ellen (Helen) Milne, 82Helen (Ella) Crawford, 85Annie Thomson, 87Margaret McWee, 98Thomas Cook, 95Agnes Dennison, 95Margaret Gow, 84Isabella MacLachlan, 93 |
| Three separate indictments were issued, each being dismissed on a legal technicality. On the final occasion in May 2009, the judge, Lord Matthews, said it would be impossible under current laws to bring prosecutions against Thomas, Anne and Alan Balmer. | |
| Two days later the Crown Office announced it was to hold a fatal accident inquiry - although this will not be able to apportion blame. | Two days later the Crown Office announced it was to hold a fatal accident inquiry - although this will not be able to apportion blame. |
| It will seek to establish where and when each of the victims died, the cause of their death and what caused the fire. | It will seek to establish where and when each of the victims died, the cause of their death and what caused the fire. |
| It will also investigate whether any reasonable precautions could have been taken to have prevented the fire, which started between 4am and 4.30am on 31 January, 2004. | It will also investigate whether any reasonable precautions could have been taken to have prevented the fire, which started between 4am and 4.30am on 31 January, 2004. |
| The sheriff-principal can also make recommendations to prevent a similar tragedy, but these are not legally binding. | The sheriff-principal can also make recommendations to prevent a similar tragedy, but these are not legally binding. |
| The inquiry is being held in the Gospel Literature Outreach Centre in Motherwell, and Sheriff-Principal Lockhart has ruled that neither he nor the lawyers taking part will wear wigs or gowns. | The inquiry is being held in the Gospel Literature Outreach Centre in Motherwell, and Sheriff-Principal Lockhart has ruled that neither he nor the lawyers taking part will wear wigs or gowns. |
| He will hold a minute's silence for the victims, five of whom were in their 90s, before reading a short statement about the aims of the inquiry. | He will hold a minute's silence for the victims, five of whom were in their 90s, before reading a short statement about the aims of the inquiry. |
| Among the first witnesses will be relatives of some of those who died, before eye-witnesses and members of the emergency services give their evidence. | Among the first witnesses will be relatives of some of those who died, before eye-witnesses and members of the emergency services give their evidence. |