Drug probe into T deaths

FESTIVAL: Pathologists say music fan may have died after taking drugs

A post-mortem examination has revealed that drugs may have killed a father-of-three who died on his way home from T in the Park.

Jim Richardson’s body was found at a remote farm in Perthshire two days after the Strathallan Castle music festival.

The circumstances around his death – particularly Police Scotland’s initial response – are under investigation by a force watchdog.

Now pathologists have returned a verdict of “presumed drug related” in connection with the 29-year-old’s death.

And the same cause has been recorded for teenagers Megan Bell and Peter MacCallum who died at the festival site in the early hours of Friday July 8.

The verdicts have sparked fresh calls for festival organisers DF Concerts to show they are cracking down on drug abuse ahead of next year’s event.

Local MSP Liz Smith has demanded “renewed efforts” from police and organisers to educate revellers about the dangers of illicit substances. She has also suggested more sniffer dogs at the festival site.

Mr Richardson was on the bus home on Monday July 11, when it stopped on the A9, near Auchterader.

He got off for a cigarette at around 2.30pm, but never returned. Mr Richardson texted his wife Samantha in Wishaw to say he had been left at the roadside without his belongings.

He was found dead several miles away at Wester Cairnie Farm, near Forteviot, the following morning.

His death initially baffled police, who said he appeared to have no noticeable injuries.

Now an autopsy has concluded that the railway track engineer’s death is “presumed drug related”.

Mr Richardson’s death certificate notes that further laboratory investigations are pending.

Pathologists have ruled that he died at 9.50am on July 12 in a field adjacent to the A9.

Mr Richardson was the third death linked with this year’s T in the Park festival.

Megan Bell, from Seaham, County Durham, died in the early hours of July 8 after collapsing in the festival’s Slam dance tent.

The 17-year-old’s cause of death has been recorded as “no anatomical cause identified, presumed drugs related (laboratory investigations pending)”.

The same cause was noted for student Peter MacCallum who died at 6.30am the same day.

Both teenagers, whose deaths are said to be unconnected, died at a temporary hospital facility at the Strathallan Castle site.

Peter’s parents, Alasdair and Sheila MacCallum, of Lochgilphead, said after his death that they hoped youngsters would learn from his death.

In a statement issued through Police Scotland, they said: “We hope that people, especially the younger members of society, learn a lesson from Peter’s death and that they don’t put their families through the devastation we are experiencing now.”

The three deaths have thrown a question mark over the future of the festival, which will need to acquire a new licence from Perth and Kinross Council to continue at Strathallan next year.

A spokesman for DF Concerts said: “We are devastated by these deaths, however, we believe the family should be allowed to grieve in peace.” jabuchan@thecourier.co.uk

From top: Jim Richardson died on the way home from this year’s T in the Park, while Megan Bell and Peter MacCallum were found dead at the festival site.