The Crown Office has announced that an FAI (fatal accident inquiry) into the crash of a helicopter onto the roof of the Clutha pub will begin fully in April 2019.
Ten people died and 31 others were injured when a police helicopter crashed into the roof of the pub on 29 November 2013.
A preliminary hearing will take place on Wednesday 3 October 2018 at Hampden Park in the city, also the venue for the full inquiry.
Further preliminary hearings will also be held on 4-5 December 2018, and 5-6 February 2019, with the main inquiry date set for Monday 8 April.
It’s interesting to observe the posture of two of the legal firms involved.
Patrick McGuire, a partner with Thompsons Solicitors, said: “This is very welcome news from the Crown Office, although it has taken far too long for us to reach this stage.
“An FAI is the only way the families of those who lost their lives will be able to learn what happen to their loved ones on that awful night almost five years ago.
“The FAI will also be able to make recommendations that will hopefully prevent a similar accident from happening again.
“I hope the Crown Office will make sure the families are at the very centre of this process, are kept fully informed of all developments and are treated in a compassionate and sympathetic manner.”
However, Paul Kavanagh, of KM Law, who represents the families of five of those who died in the pub and its owner, said: “They are more concerned about the lack of information coming from the Crown.
“This is in marked contrast to the M9 deaths, where the Crown kept the families up to date on a monthly basis.”
Mr Kavanagh said he was not concerned about the time taken for the FAI to start.
He said: “The Crown must have learned from their actions in the Glasgow bin lorry case [in which six people were killed in 2014].
“The FAI [which reported within a year of the crash] was rushed and it was a disaster
“Justice rushed is justice denied.”
Clutha helicopter disaster FAI to begin in April
Clutha helicopter inquiry set for Hampden in April
The Crown Office previously said there would be no criminal proceedings.
Investigators found that fuel transfer switches on the helicopter were turned off at the time of the crash.
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A report published in 2015 by the Air Accidents Investigation Branch (AAIB) said the pilot did not follow emergency protocol and flew on despite low fuel warnings.
It said fuel transfer pumps were turned off and a controlled landing was not achieved for “unknown reasons”.
The Crown Office previously said that following a wide-ranging investigation, which involved the consideration of a “significant volume of documentation” and detailed statements from witnesses, it had concluded there was no evidence to justify criminal proceedings.
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14 February 2014: AAIB special report finds both engines “flamed out”. One of the fuel tanks was empty, while a second contained 0.4 litres. A third contained 75 litres, but transfer pumps to take this fuel to the other two engine tanks were switched off.
Date announced for Clutha helicopter crash inquiry
The Clutha
Secret Scotland 