Kerry Johnson whose mother Joy Robson was killed in last year’s Snowman Rally in Inverness has called on the Crown office to act now and set up Fatal Accident Inquiries into her mother’s accident and the recent deaths at the Jim Clark Rally in the Borders.
Mrs Robson who was fifty and from Portree on the Isle of Skye was killed after being hit by a competing car as she watched the rally in February last year. An eight year old boy was also struck but survived. Joy’s daughter Kerry who was absolutely horrified by the recent deaths at the Jim Clark Rally has spoken out about the lack of safety measures at these events and the need for the Crown Office to properly investigate the fatalities through an FAI.
She said “When I heard the news about what had happened at the Jim Clark Rally I was completely stunned. It’s just over a year since mum’s death and here we are with 3 more spectators being killed and several more injured. When is this going to stop? While I welcome moves by the Scottish Government and the police to review safety at these events it’s a fatal accident inquiry held in open court that will get to the bottom of what happened to my mum and these other victims. Having a FAI will also give me and my family the right to ask questions which this government review wont. My family want to be involved, we want our voice to be heard and we want desperately to make sure nobody else loses their lives at a Scottish rally”
Andrew Henderson who is representing Mrs Robson’s family leads Thompsons specialist fatal accident unit, he said “It’s been an absolutely traumatic year for Kerry and the rest of her family and what happened in the Borders just over a week ago has really upset them. In what other sport in Scotland could four spectators be killed within 18 months and nothing be done by the authorities. Kerry is right when she says that this has got to stop. The announcement of a safety review by the justice secretary is welcome but its only through a Fatal Accident Inquiry set up by the Crown Office that we’ll be able to get to the bottom of what’s happening at these rallies and most importantly what we can do to stop this happening to anyone else.
