Stop talking about the damn helicopter, let’s talk about the deaths of 10 human beings
BY KEITH MCLEOD k.mcleod@dailyrecord.co.uk A GRIEVING dad walked out of the Clutha tragedy fatal accident inquiry after an hour and never went back after seeing the array of lawyers and QCs gathered in front of Sheriff Principal Craig Turnbull.
Ian O’Prey was so frustrated with the process, he wrote a letter which he hoped might be heard during the 32-day probe.
But his thoughts were never read to the inquiry and now the Daily Record can reveal the contents for the first time.
Ian – whose son Mark, 44, was among 10 people who died when a police helicopter plunged into the Glasgow bar in 2013 – said he was dismayed when he heard the probe was to be held at Hampden Park instead of a recognised court building.
The letter says: “The venue itself reduced the importance of 10 people dead. There was no respect for the victims/families. It was all about their precious helicopter from day one. I attended... for one hour. I could not stand the hypocrisy any longer.” Ian, 73, was joined by Clutha boss Alan Crossan after the release of the FAI findings in standing up for pilot David Traill. Both men – and other families – believe he has been wrongly held responsible for the disaster on November 29, 2013.
They believe that “defects” in the design of the helicopter may have played a part. Ian’s letter added: “Stop talking about this damn helicopter, let’s talk about the deaths of 10 human beings.”
He told the Record: “I saw the venue, saw all the lawyers and thought that, after six years of waiting, it just wasn’t right. I left and never went back.”
Sheriff Turnbull said in his determination that Traill had ignored low fuel warnings.