An army major has today (Friday) pleaded guilty to health and safety charges in relation to the tragic death of 14 year old Kaylee McIntosh from Fyvie, Aberdeenshire. Kaylee died while taking part in a cadet training exercise in the Outer Hebrides in 2007.
Major George McCallum appeared at Inverness Sheriff Court where he entered a guilty plea. Major McCallum was charged under the Health and Safety at Work Act which carries no custodial sentence. The case is still on going and he has yet to be sentenced.
Kaylee’s parents Lesley and Derek McIntosh issued a joint statement in reaction to today’s developments:
‘’We welcome that Major McCallum has taken the only honourable route available and pleaded guilty to the charge against him arising from the significant role he played in the wholly unnecessary death of our beloved daughter Kaylee. By pleading guilty Major McCallum has at least spared us the ordeal of sitting through a further legal hearing analysing the dreadful detail of Kaylee’s last moments and the unforgivable catalogue of errors that led to her death.
However Major McCallum is only one of a number of people who have to answer for their actions on the day Kaylee was taken from us. Our campaign does not stop here and we will continue to press the Crown Office to bring charges against several others implicated in the death of our daughter.’’ Thompsons Solicitors successfully sued the Ministry of Defence on the family’s behalf and assisted in the campaign for criminal action against those responsible. Partner Glen Millar added:
‘’Lesley and Derek view today’s developments as a further step towards justice for Kaylee. It has to be borne in mind however that both the Marine Accident Investigation report and the findings of a two week Fatal Accident Inquiry were quite clear to the effect that Major McCallum was but one of a group identified as having a role in Kaylee’s death. I am instructed to continue the family’s campaign for comprehensive justice in respect of what happened to Kaylee.”
ENDS
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