The mum of one of the men killed in the Cameron House blaze has hit out after a decision on a full inquiry into the tragedy was delayed.
Jane Midgley said the Crown Office was due to tell her yesterday whether a Fatal Accident Inquiry will be held into the deaths of her son Simon Midgley and his partner Richard Dyson at the hotel.
She says this is the second time a meeting on a decision has been put on hold and criticised the further wait for answers into the case, which took three years to reach court.
A charity, which supports grieving families in their fight for justice, has also criticised the Crown Office over the delay.
Jane, who says an FAI must be held to avoid another tragedy, said: “I am absolutely furious. I was originally due to find out on April 6, and then it got moved to April 12 and it’s been delayed yet again.
“I was told someone from the Crown Office would contact me on Friday to confirm the meeting would go ahead on Monday (yesterday), but I heard nothing so sent them an email.
“I then got an email back saying that the decision has been delayed again.
“They couldn’t even tell me over the phone.
“Your mind then starts racing over what the delay could be.
“They know how much these delays affect my mental health and it was constant in the three years we waited for it to reach court.
“I don’t understand what further information they need.
“They say a decision will be made after consulting families but that has been done.”
Charity Scottish Hazards, which is campaigning for reforms in legislation where deaths have been caused in workplaces, has been supporting Jane.
Louise Adamson, of the charity, is calling on the Cabinet Secretary for Justice to intervene and ensure the next scheduled meeting goes ahead as planned.
She said: “We have supported many grieving families on their journey through the justice system and a recurring theme is the lack of effective communication from the Crown Office and Procurator Fiscal Service (COPFS).
“Families not being appointed a liaison officer in line with COPFS’ own protocol or else being given false hope about dates.
“They should not continue to receive email communication when they have expressly requested phonecalls.
“They should not have to chase for updates when none are forthcoming. Because all of this only adds to the horrendous pressure they are already under in dealing with their grief.
“The justice system is meant to work for families. All too often it sees families have to do battle with the justice system.”
Simon Midgley, 32, and Richard Dyson, 38, died on the morning of December 18, 2017 when a fire spread from a cupboard and tore through the five-star Cameron House hotel on the banks of Loch Lomond.
More than 200 guests - including 25 children - fled the burning hotel.
Cameron House was handed a £500,000 fine for pleading guilty to fire safety failures and night porter Christopher O’Malley, 35, from Lennox Street in Renton - who admitted placing a plastic bag full of ash inside a cupboard, starting the fire - was sentenced to 300 hours of unpaid work.
Last week, it emerged that the cause was known within just five months of the blaze.
According to the BBC, Andrew Wade, an independent forensic scientist who specialises in fires and explosions, was asked by Police Scotland in May 2018 to investigate what happened.
In an interview, he said the investigation was “relatively straightforward”.
The report stated that he visited the site, and concluded that the fire began after hot embers were placed in a concierge cupboard.
Mr Wade submitted his preliminary report on May 13, 2018 and it took a further two years and seven months until the case reached court.
Jane said: “I thought it was strange that it was so simple to find the cause yet took so long to get to court.
“I’ve been told for years that the investigation was complicated but that doesn’t make sense when it took a forensic scientist such a short amount of time to determine what happened.”
A Crown Office spokesman said: “The families of Richard Dyson and Simon Midgley were informed of the cause and seat of the fire at an early stage and were kept informed of the other extensive investigations regularly throughout the period the investigation was ongoing.
“These comprehensive investigations and subsequent reports received by COPFS covered a wider range of matters and led to criminal proceedings.
“The extent of the charges to which the accused plead guilty to and the narratives provided to the court demonstrate why the finding of the cause and seat of fire was not an end to the investigation.”
Regarding the FAI decision, he said: “The decision on whether or not to hold a FAI is yet to be made. This decision will be made following consultation with the Dyson and Midgley families.”
