We’re still haunted by hotel death fire. It’s ruined our lives
Mum says her son is afraid to go to sleep
Lisa Boyle
A mum says her family’s lives have been “ruined” since their narrow escape from the Cameron House fire which killed two guests.
Hannah Munn revealed how her tormented son Toby now suffers from anxiety and is still afraid to go to sleep three years after fleeing the terrifying inferno when he was five years old.
The 45-year- old spoke out days after owners of the five-star hotel were fined £ 500,000 for failings that caused the blaze in which Simon Midgley, 32, and Richard Dyson, 38, died.
Hannah, her husband Matt, 50, and their son were in the room next door to the tragic couple.
Supermarket executive Hannah described the owners of the luxury Loch Lomond resort as “reckless and arrogant”.
Night porter Christopher O’Malley, 35, was found to have put ashes from a hot fireplace in a plastic bag before dumping them inside a cupboard. He had been warned against doing the same thing days earlier.
It also emerged that Simon and Richard were missing inside the venue for 80 minutes before management noticed.
Hannah said: “Cameron House has ruined my life and they’ve ruined Toby’s.
Kids are supposed to have the freedom and belief that you’re invincible but he had that taken away from him. Toby is eight now and he still doesn’t go to bed easily and is still frightened of fire.
“We took him to a hotel at Legoland but he freaked out as, to him, it was like Cameron House because it was all wooden.
“We had to leave. It’s been horrific and not knowing what caused the fire until now has been terrible.” The inferno gutted the building while Hannah and her family were there on December 18, 2017.
Hotel owners Cameron House Resort (Loch Lomond) Ltd admitted major safety failings and were fined £500,000 by Sheriff William Gallacher on Friday.
The firm had a turnover of £ 40million in 2016 and 2017.
O’Malley was sentenced to 300 hours’ unpaid work and placed on supervision for 18 months. He was told he had avoided a jail sentence of up to two years because he had made an early guilty plea.
Hannah, who is head of innovations for Morrisons, said: “This feels like a slap in the face. That sentencing says, ‘ Your life doesn’t matter, it doesn’t matter that they didn’t follow the rules.’
“O’Malley’s sentence is nothing but he’ll feel responsible for the rest of his life.
“I’m more angry with Cameron House than I am with the porter, although I think his sentence is appalling.
“The Cameron House fine is also shocking. Their turnover was £40million so this has little impact on them.
“Two men have lost their lives and God knows how many families had their world turned upside down. I don’t get how Cameron House can carry on trading.”
Earlier this month Dumbarton Sheriff Court heard that Cameron House did not have proper procedures in place for the disposal of ash or for training staff.
Hannah previously described fleeing in terror after her husband noticed smoke coming in through the toilet.
Six people were taken to hospital but journalist and PR manager Simon and TV producer Richard died.
Cameron House Resort was contacted for comment.
Toby is still frightened of fire.. it’s been horrific