Crash tragedy father could miss inquiry
BY LUCINDA CAMERON reporters@dailyrecord.co.uk THE DAD of one of the 10 victims of the Clutha helicopter crash may not be represented at a fatal accident inquiry into the tragedy because of legal aid issues.
Seven people in the Glasgow pub, the pilot and two crew members were killed when the police helicopter crashed on to the roof of the building in November 2013.
The fatal accident inquiry will begin in April at the city’s Hampden Park.
At a preliminary hearing at Glasgow Sheriff Court, the inquiry heard the assistance has been granted to several family members who requested it.
But it heard that while Ian O’Prey, the father of victim Mark O’Prey, has been granted legal aid, he has been unable to pay a contribution requested by the Legal Aid Board.
His lawyer Dana Forbes said: “The application for Mr O’Prey has been granted for junior counsel and the application for senior counsel may be reviewed. A contribution was due by December 22 but Mr O’Prey was not able to make that.
“The Legal Aid Board extended it to the end of the month and there is something going on in the background regarding funding but at the moment the contribution has not been paid by anyone.”
Sheriff Principal Craig Turnbull, who is overseeing the FAI, said yesterday: “Circumstances may preclude Mr O’Prey from participating.”
More than 100 people were at the Clutha Vaults pub when the helicopter, returning to its base on the banks of the River Clyde, crashed through the roof.
Pub customers Mark, John McGarrigle, Gary Arthur, Colin Gibson, Robert Jenkins, Samuel McGhee and Joe Cusker died, while pilot David Traill and PCs Tony Collins and Kirsty Nelis were also killed.
An Air Accidents Investigations Branch report published in 2015 found two fuel supply switches were off and the pilot did not follow emergency procedures after a fuel warning.
The Crown Office found insufficient evidence for criminal proceedings.
Family members, Police Scotland, Airbus Helicopters and the AAIB are among those represented at the inquiry.