PROBE INTO FEARS PSNI ‘BOTCHED’ CRASH CASE

School pupils’ tragedy referred to PPS

on her phone when it was later seized and examined by police.

Ms Seaman, who was not prosecuted over the collision, has expressed her sorrow over the crash but has insisted she never saw the two schoolchildren on the road in the dark.

Delivering her findings in Belfast Coroner’s Court yesterday, Ms Anderson said she had “serious concerns about the lack of satisfactory explanation” as to why the two outgoing calls were not logged on the phone.

Announcing her decision to refer the case to the Public Prosecution Service, she said: “It would appear that someone has deleted them [the two calls] and in doing so it would appear that an offence has been committed.”

The coroner was scathing of the police’s handling of the case. She added: “There were some serious failures in the police investigation of the road traffic collision.”

A copy of her findings will be sent to PSNI Chief Constable George Hamilton.

Outside court, the family of Debbie Whyte welcomed the coroner’s findings.

Solicitor Matthew Mckenna said: “For almost 10 years they have been searching for the truth as to what happened on that fateful night.

“As the coroner has sent a file to the PPS it is the family’s hope a proper investigation into the phone activity may yet take place.”

The PSNI acknowledged there were “clear failings” in its probe.

Chief Superintendent David Moore said: “We will reflect on the verdict made today and determine if further work needs to be done in this area.”

YESTERDAY

TRIBUTE Flowers at scene of crash