Ex-mounted officer settles after fall

A former mounted police officer who sued for £1 million after she fell off her horse at a football match has settled her case for an undisclosed sum.

Alison Scott, 50, had to give up her job after seriously damaging her foot and ankle when she became trapped under her mount, Tobermory. The former Strathclyde Police constable, from Symington, Ayrshire, claimed the horse had a history of behavioural issues, was unpredictable, aggressive and had a tendency to fall. When Mrs Scott was injured it was understood to have been the sixth time that Tobermory had stumbled and fallen.

She raised an action against the former Chief Constable of Police Scotland, Phil Gormley. The case was due to call at the Court of Session in Edinburgh yesterday. However, the matter did not call.

The court confirmed the reason why it hadn’t called was because Mrs Scott’s case had been settled. However, the details surrounding the settlement haven’t been revealed.

The incident occurred at the CIS Cup final at Hampden Park on 17 March 2013, when St Mirren beat Hearts 3-2. The claim was being contested by lawyers acting for the police. The Court of Session heard Mrs Scott’s horse kicked out at another police horse, striking its hind leg and drawing blood. She said she tried to move Tobermory but claims as she did so, the horse “suddenly and without warning lost his footing and fell over”.