- FAMILY’S CAMPAIGN CONTINUES TO ENSURE ALL OF THOSE RESPONSIBLE FACE JUSTICE

The family of drowned army cadet, Kaylee McIntosh, have welcomed the news that a criminal case is to be brought against an army major who was involved in the incident as “a step closer to justice”. 

They repeated their calls for the criminal proceedings to extend beyond one person, reflective of the catastrophic catalogue of errors and omissions established at the Fatal Accident Inquiry and in the Marine Accident Investigation Branch report.  According to the family, senior officers who ignored the failings of the cadet force officers, failed to take account of the weather forecast and presided over a regime that supplied used adult lifejackets to children, should also be in the dock.    Derek and Lesley McIntosh’s daughter Kaylee died at the age of 14 when she was trapped under an Army Cadet boat in a disastrous exercise on Loch Carnan, South Uist in August 2007.    In a statement, Kaylee’s parents Derek and Lesley McIntosh, said:

“This development takes us one step closer to getting full justice for Kaylee.

“We welcome the fact that criminal charges are to be brought.  We’ve waited so long for this and fought so hard – there were times we felt that criminal charges would never come.

“This man is just one of a number of people who have questions to answer for the death of our daughter and we will keep on campaigning to make sure that everyone responsible answers for their actions.

“We have had four and a half years of pain, anger and frustration not knowing whether we would ever see criminal charges.  This announcement is progress and we hope to see more of it to get full justice for our daughter.       Partner at Thompsons Solicitors, who handled their case for compensation and has helped the family in their campaign for criminal proceedings, Glen Millar, said:

“Derek and Lesley have waited a long time for this announcement.  It’s a positive step and one that will go at least some way to seeing justice served, but more needs to be done. 

“It wasn’t just one person who was involved in this incident, responsibility extends well beyond the now accused in terms of the FAI and MAIB findings.

“On behalf of our clients we will be continuing discussions with the Crown Office to ensure that the most is done to get them the justice they and Kaylee deserve.

“As the criminal case is now active it would be inappropriate to comment further on the circumstances surrounding Kaylee’s death.”