Clutha crash families ‘will need charity cash for FAI’

FAMILIES who lost loved ones in the Clutha tragedy are hoping kind donors will help fund their legal bills so they can be represented at the fatal accident inquiry into the disaster.

Legal aid has been granted to the families of Samuel McGhee, Mark O’Prey and Gary Arthur but they have to contribute £8,500, a hearing at Glasgow Sheriff Court yesterday was told.

The men were among ten people killed when a helicopter crashed into the roof of the Clutha pub in Glasgow city centre on November 29, 2013.

Seven customers died – Mr McGhee, 56; Mr O’Prey, 44; Mr Arthur, 48; Colin Gibson, 33; John McGarrigle, 57; Robert Jenkins, 61; and Joe Cusker, 59. Helicopter pilot David Traill, 51, and PCs Tony Collins, 43, and Kirsty Nelis, 36, were also killed.

A fatal accident inquiry will be held on April 8 at Glasgow’s Hampden Park.

Mr McGhee’s son, James Diver; Ian O’Prey, father of Mr O’Prey; and Mr Arthur’s father, Gordon Arthur, will receive legal aid but must make a contribution. Yesterday, counsel for Mr Diver, Louise

‘Money raised will go towards legal bill’

Arrol, said there was hope a charity would cover the first instalment and that preparation for the inquiry was under way.

She added that steps are being taken to raise funds to pay the balance.

The legal aid board suspended the need for payment until the end of January to see if there will be any other funding.

The fiancée of pilot Mr Traill, Dr Lucy Thomas, is privately funding her representation but the court heard yesterday that the funding ‘will run out’. The legal aid board has said she cannot apply for help ‘until private funding has run out’.

Sheriff Principal Craig Turnbull noted there had been a suggestion that Dr Thomas might not be eligible for legal aid.

The hearing was continued until the preliminary hearing next month.

Yesterday, Clutha boss Alan Crossan said that the charity he set up after the tragedy is planning to help fund the £8,500 needed by the families, adding that a ‘GoFundMe page’ had been set up.

He added: ‘All money will go towards the bill. What’s the benefit of taking £8,000 off people who can’t afford it, after all they’ve been through?’