Latest news with #Accident
The Herald Scotland
4 days ago
- Health
- The Herald Scotland
'A staggering failure of even the most basic standards'
Had an ambulance been called rather than just dumping him on the street, he would probably have lived. The manager admitted staff had not received health and safety training for dealing with unwell customers and there was no designated 'first aider.' The pub lost its licence for a time. Read More: Earlier this month, 38-year-old Sean Stephen lay dead in a toilet cubicle in the public 'hub' advice centre in the City Chambers' building for six days until he was discovered on July 7. This surely reveals a staggering failure of even the most basic standards of hygiene and maintenance. Admittedly, it was cleaning staff who eventually sounded the alarm, but when most of such public facilities have daily, if not hourly, maintenance logs pinned by the door, it's legitimate to ask what they were doing for the previous five days. Or indeed what the managers were doing to make sure the cleaners were doing what they were supposed to. It has been claimed that staff thought the cubicle was locked because it was out of order, but then on the morning of July 1 it was presumably working fine, so it must not have been checked at the end of the day when the centre closed. And if it was out of order, shouldn't a manager have known and done something about it? The hub facility provides a walk-up public advice service and as most of it relates to welfare claims and information for people with debt problems, it's fair to say its customers are often those with complex difficulties, and as it's near The Access Place which provides services for homeless people with alcohol and drug problems, security staff are on hand to deal with any issues. Why the security personnel did not see Mr Stephen enter the toilet and failed to notice he had not left is something the investigation will need to address. It is now believed Mr Stephen did indeed have addiction issues and had been experiencing other personal difficulties, and on that basis alone alarm bells should have been ringing when his wife first reported him missing to police on the morning of July 1. Only the police will be able to answer why it took so long for him to be traced, but like the Whistle Binkie's victim, Mr Stephen's wife Julie is entitled to believe he could have lived had he received medical attention in time. There are several layers of failure, starting with security staff who seemingly failed to keep tabs on who was coming and going from the centre, cleaners who clearly failed to clean, but also the police who may have failed to act quickly enough on a missing person's report about someone with problems. Add these to the precedent of the Whistle Binkie's incident and a Fatal Accident Inquiry (FAI) is a racing certainty. If it isn't it should be. But if the Procurator Fiscal does decide an FAI is necessary, it's a two-edged sword for the family. Those involved would be called to give evidence and relatives will have a better chance of getting answers to their many questions, but it means there would be virtually no chance of an early conclusion. Two years from death to the start of a hearing is far from unusual. There is another by-product of an FAI, which is that while councillors will inevitably have questions themselves about the actions of officers ─ not least because the impression has been created that as Mr Stephen lay dead while councillors were going about Chambers business within feet of him, which was not the case ─ they will struggle to get answers imminently. If Mr Stephen's family seek compensation it could be even longer. Edinburgh Council officers have form for dragging their heels when it comes to anything involving the authority's reputation, be it the trams fiasco or the corruption scandal at the heart of Edinburgh Lifelong Learning ─ a sordid affair which took 20 years to settle ─ and while any front-line staff who might be found directly responsible might be moved on or even out, the chances of culpability at a senior management level are, I would contend, limited to non-existent. As if to illustrate the point, a column in Monday's Evening News by council leader Jane Meagher ─ or more likely the Labour group office ─ made no mention of the incident. E NEEDAlong with some fluffy paragraphs about some youngsters working at a café in the Sick Kids hospital, and the Tourist Tax, it was devoted to expressing her gratitude to those nice people in the Unite, GMB and Unison trade unions for accepting a two-year pay deal 'which recognises the value of colleagues across the council and ensures that people are paid fairly for the work they do,' which presumably includes the City Chambers cleaners. And she said a very nice thank you to all the workers during the Festival season who 'ensure that Edinburgh and our world-leading events programme remains safe, inclusive, and successful.' Not, it would seem, in the City Chambers toilets. John McLellan is a former Edinburgh Evening News and Scotsman editor. He served as a City of Edinburgh councillor for five years. Brought up in Glasgow, McLellan has lived and worked in Edinburgh for 30 years.
Yahoo
18-07-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Cyclist Dead At 19 After Tragic Mid-Race Crash
Cyclist Dead At 19 After Tragic Mid-Race Crash originally appeared on The Spun. Tragedy struck this week during the Tour of Valle D'Aosta. During the first stage of Wednesday's race, 19-year-old Italian cyclist Samuele Privitera was involved in a crash. He reportedly lost control of his bike after hitting a speed bump and struck his head on a barrier. Unfortunately, it was confirmed this week that Privitera passed away from the injuries sustained in this accident. Privitera, a member of the Hagens Berman Jayco team, reportedly crashed on a descent of about 35 kilometers. He lost his helmet when the accident occurred. "Samuele was and always will be the life and personality of this team," Hagens Berman Jayco team director Axel Merckx said. "This team has always been a small family, and moments like this are unimaginable. He was irreplaceable. His joy, his spirit, his kindness, was always a bright light to whatever room or race that he was in at that moment. To lose him is devastating beyond words." Tour de France riders honored Privitera's memory on Thursday, applauding for him during the 12th stage. "It's really sad to lose another young talent today. It's devastating," Tour de France rider Tadej Pogacar said. "It is one of the most dangerous sports in the world, I think, and the risk that we are taking sometimes is too far. But I'm really really really sad for all his family. May he rest in peace." Our thoughts are with Privitera's friends and family Dead At 19 After Tragic Mid-Race Crash first appeared on The Spun on Jul 18, 2025 This story was originally reported by The Spun on Jul 18, 2025, where it first appeared.
Scotsman
11-07-2025
- Scotsman
Death of Edinburgh prisoner to be investigated
The death of an Edinburgh prisoner, who died in 2023, will be formally investigated in November. Sign up to our daily newsletter Sign up Thank you for signing up! Did you know with a Digital Subscription to Edinburgh News, you can get unlimited access to the website including our premium content, as well as benefiting from fewer ads, loyalty rewards and much more. Learn More Sorry, there seem to be some issues. Please try again later. Submitting... The Crown Office and Procurator Fiscal Service (COPFS) has lodged a First Notice to begin the court process for the inquiry into the death of John Barr, who died at the age of 71. Barr, an inmate within HMP Edinburgh, was taken to Edinburgh Royal Infirmary for medical treatment. A deterioration in his health required a move to palliative care at a community hospital in Granton where he later died on October 5, 2023. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad A Preliminary Hearing will be held on July 21, followed by a Fatal Accident Inquiry on November 4, both at the Edinburgh Sheriff Court. Mr Barr was in legal custody and in the care of the state at the time of his death. The COPFS is obliged to investigate such deaths, and a Fatal Accident Inquiry is mandatory. A Preliminary Hearing will be held on July 21, followed by a Fatal Accident Inquiry on November 4, both at the Edinburgh Sheriff Court. The purpose of the inquiry includes determining the cause of death; the circumstances in which the deaths occurred, and to establish what, if any, reasonable precautions could have been taken, and could be implemented in the future, to minimise the risk of future deaths in similar circumstances. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad Unlike criminal proceedings, FAIs are inquisitorial in nature, and are used to establish facts rather than to apportion blame. Procurator Fiscal Andy Shanks, who leads on fatalities investigations for COPFS, said: 'The Lord Advocate considers that the death of John Barr occurred while in legal custody and as such a Fatal Accident Inquiry is mandatory. 'The lodging of the First Notice enables FAI proceedings to commence under the direction of the Sheriff.'
Daily Record
11-07-2025
- Daily Record
Jail death of Scots paedophile who raped two young girls to be probed by Sheriff
John Barr, 71, died while receiving palliative care at a community hospital in Granton, Edinburgh, on October 5, 2023. A probe is to be held over the prison death of a vile Scottish paedophile who raped and sexually abused two young girls. John Barr, 71, was convicted of four charges of rape and one count of lewd and libidinous practises following a trial in July 2019. The High Court in Edinburgh heard how he inflicted a campaign of terror on the young girls for almost a decade. The victims were targeted at two addresses in Fallin, near Stirling, between October 1983 and October 1991. One of the girls was aged between six and 15 when she was subjected to serious sexual assault at the hands of Barr. The other child was aged between 13 and 18 when she was molested by the beast. His crimes were only brought to light when one of the women, now in her 40s, came forward and reported the abuse to police in November 2017. Investigators then re-opened a previous case from 2003 which involved the other victim. Barr protested his innocence, however, a jury found the beast guilty of the depraved offences. Following his sentencing, Police Scotland Detective Constable David Brown thanked both women for their bravery in reporting their abuser. He said: 'For almost a decade, John Barr preyed on two young girls and committed horrific sexual offences against the pair. Had it not been for their bravery in coming forward his crimes could have gone unpunished. 'Now, however, he will serve a custodial sentence and I wish to thank both women for their continued support of the police investigation. "It is my sincere hope that both can now put their respective ordeals behind them and move on with their lives. "We are committed to bringing all perpetrators for sexual abuse to justice and time is no barrier for our inquiries. We would urge anyone who wishes to report sexual crime, regardless of when it occurred, to contact us so we can conduct a thorough and professional investigation." Barr died while receiving palliative care at a community hospital in Granton, Edinburgh, on October 5, 2023. He had been serving a seven year sentence at HMP Edinburgh. Barr was in legal custody and in the care of the state at the time of his death. The Crown Office and Procurator Fiscal Service is obliged to investigate such deaths, and a Fatal Accident Inquiry (FAI) is mandatory. A preliminary hearing will be held on July 21 at Edinburgh Sheriff Court before the FAI is heard on November 4 at the same court. The purpose of a Fatal Accident Inquiry (FAI) includes determining the cause of death; the circumstances in which the deaths occurred, and to establish what, if any, reasonable precautions could have been taken, and could be implemented in the future, to minimise the risk of future deaths in similar circumstances. Join the Daily Record WhatsApp community! Get the latest news sent straight to your messages by joining our WhatsApp community today. You'll receive daily updates on breaking news as well as the top headlines across Scotland. No one will be able to see who is signed up and no one can send messages except the Daily Record team. All you have to do is click here if you're on mobile, select 'Join Community' and you're in! If you're on a desktop, simply scan the QR code above with your phone and click 'Join Community'. We also treat our community members to special offers, promotions, and adverts from us and our partners. If you don't like our community, you can check out any time you like. To leave our community click on the name at the top of your screen and choose 'exit group'. Unlike criminal proceedings, FAIs are inquisitorial in nature, and are used to establish facts rather than to apportion blame. Procurator Fiscal Andy Shanks, who leads on fatalities investigations for COPFS, said: 'The Lord Advocate considers that the death of John Barr occurred while in legal custody and as such a Fatal Accident Inquiry is mandatory. 'The lodging of the First Notice enables FAI proceedings to commence under the direction of the Sheriff.'
Daily Record
22-06-2025
- Politics
- Daily Record
Humza Yousaf is quite right to caution against any involvement in action against Iran
Anyone who remember the built up to the disastrous Iraq War will have a feeling of deja vu as events in the middle east unfolded last week. Just like in 2003 the public are being warned of an existential threat from weapons of mass destruction - this time unless we rush headlong into war with Iran on the side of Israel. Humza Yousaf is quite right to caution against any involvement at this point in what could well be an illegal action against a country which - while undoubtedly a threat - was at the negotiating table until Israel began launching missiles into its territory. The US Air Force has already been moving jets closer to the middle east which could be used to facilitate dropping bunker buster bombs on nuclear facilities. And the Scottish Government should think very carefully over whether it wants Prestwick Airport - which it owns - to continue to be involved in that operation. Earlier this year Donald Trump famously accused Volodymyr Zelensky of 'gambling with World War III' in Ukraine. But it is now surely the US President who is engaged in a high stakes game of poker which could ignite a global conflict if things spiral out of control. Israel is a country which stands accused of horrifying crimes in Gaza where over 50,000 people have now been killed. The utterly despicable October 7 attacks on Israel cannot be used as justification for the massive loss of civilian life. And Benjamin Netanyahu's clear desire to now drag western allies into the conflict with Iran should be rejected in favour of diplomacy. The last 20 years of wars in the middle east involving the US and UK have been an economic and humanitarian disaster for millions of people and have undoubtedly fuelled uncontrolled immigration to Europe. To get involved in yet another due to pressure from a country accused of war crimes by the International Criminal Court would be an unforgivable misjudgment. Legal aid for FAI families Losing a child or relative is one of the most difficult things anyone will have to experience. When a death happens at work or unexpectedly in hospital it's right that Fatal Accident Inquiries (FAI) take place to make sure it wasn't preventable. Grieving families who are faced with having to attend an FAI should not have an added financial burden to do so. Understandably relatives want to ensure their questions are answered. What isn't guaranteed is that they'll qualify for legal aid or have the funds to pay for a lawyer themselves. As the parents of baby Freya Murphy point out, the thought of having no representation while a room full of lawyers discuss what happened to your relative is unthinkable. That's why they are calling for government support to pay for lawyers for families in that situation. The Sunday Mail back their call. The government has already granted legal aid for relatives of those who die in custody. It's right they extend this to cover anyone whose relatives deaths are being probed by an FAI.
