Sheriff Principal Brian Lockart has now published his findings following a 141 day fatal accident inquiry into the fire at Rosepark care home in Uddingston, Lanarkshire.

Sheriff Principal Lockart found that the fire safety plans at the care home were “systematically and seriously defective”.  He concluded that “some or all” of the deaths at the residential care home could have been prevented. 

The fire broke out in a cupboard overnight and ripped through the building, killing 14 residents and injuring 4 more.

The inquiry was told that the car home’s practice meant that a member of staff had to locate the source of the blaze before dialling 999. Staff therefore waited nine minutes before contacted the fire brigade.

It is so sad to read that the deaths could have been prevented had there simply been a sufficient fire safety plan in place.  This tragedy highlights how important it is to have a suitable and manageable fire safety plan in place in work places and residences such as the Rosepark care home. 

My friends at Thompsons Solicitors have years of experience in assisting the families’ of fatal accident victims.  They understand the first and most important thing that a family need and demand is answers!  Without answers as to what happened and why it happened they cannot move on with their lives, they need to know that no other family will be affected as they have been by the loss of a loved one.