First Minister writes to Jane after reading painful letter
BY JENNY FOULDS jenny.foulds@reachplc.com
NICOLA Sturgeon yesterday promised to meet the distraught mum of one of the men killed in the Cameron House hotel fire – after her heartbreaking Daily Record story was discussed in the Scottish Parliament.
The First Minister said she has replied to a letter written by Jane Midgley, who lost her 32-yearold son Simon in the blaze on December 18, 2017.
She was quizzed on the case by Dumbarton MSP Jackie Baillie, who held up a copy of the Record’s front page which told how Jane has waited nearly 1000 days for an answer from the Crown Office over what caused her son’s death.
Sturgeon said: “I sent a reply to Ms Midgley last night so she will receive that letter today or in the next couple of days.
“I deeply sympathise with her loss and the loss her family has suffered, also the frustration that will be contributing towards her grief of the delays in any process around the investigation of Cameron House.
“No matter my personal feeling and the anguish I feel on her behalf, I cannot and it simply would not be right for me to seek to intervene in any decisions about criminal investigations or potential criminal prosecutions, and I know that is always hard for victims or people who have suffered loss to understand.
“The Crown Office, I’m sure, will give Jackie Baillie an update.
It’s simply not for me to speak directly to the Crown Office to these matters in any way.
“I would, of course, be willing to meet with Mrs Midgley when she comes to Scotland.
“I don’t want either myself or Jackie Baillie on my behalf to raise her expectations about what I can reasonably do in the context of criminal investigations.
“I don’t think that would be fair to her or fair to her family, although I understand her anguish and want again to convey my deep condolences and sympathy to her and her loved ones for what they are suffering.”
Jane, who lives in Leeds and