Mother’s hopes as hotel fire FAI date confirmed

THE mother of a man who died in a hotel fire which claimed two lives has said she is finally hoping for some closure after a date was set for a fatal accident inquiry into the 2017 blaze.

Simon Midgley, 32, and his partner, Richard Dyson, 38, from London, died in the blaze at the five-star Cameron House Hotel on the banks of Loch Lomond on December 18 that year.

Hotel operator Cameron House Resort (Loch Lomond) Ltd was fined £500,000 and night porter Christopher O’malley was given a community payback order over the fire at Dumbarton Sheriff Court in January 2021.

Jane Midgley said it has been her “worst nightmare” waiting for answers about what happened and stated that she won’t miss a minute of the Fatal Accident Inquiry (FAI), which is set to begin in August.

At a continued preliminary hearing, which took place virtually yesterday, Sheriff Thomas Mccartney agreed the fatal accident inquiry (FAI) will begin at Paisley Sheriff Court on August 15 and will take place in person rather than virtually.

Mrs Midgley told the PA news agency: “Four and a half years on, it is a long time for things to be put right and for changes to be made, if any.

“It’s been my worst nightmare, waiting for answers, waiting to see what is going to happen next, will there be any changes, why has it taken so long – these questions need to be asked.

“Two young men lost their lives and four and a half years on what has changed? What legislation has changed?”

Mrs Midgley welcomed the decision that the FAI itself will be in person.

She said: “This is very important to me, that we get answers, that we have changes made and this kind of thing never happens again.”