Secret files on Dunblane massacre to be unveiled

Published on Thursday 29 September 2005 01:55

Key points

• 100-year order banning public from viewing Dunblane files to be lifted

• Parents of some of the victims welcome disclosure of information

• 16 children and their teacher killed in Dunblane by gunman in 1996

Key quote

"There've been lots of rumours, partly due to the fact that the public haven't had access to these documents, and it's time the last veils of secrecy were lifted" - Charlie Clydesdale, father of young girl killed in Dunblane tragedy

Story in full AN ORDER banning the public from accessing documents from the inquiry into the Dunblane massacre is to be lifted, a move which may finally answer some of the questions that have remained over the tragedy.

Sixteen children and their teacher died when Thomas Hamilton walked into Dunblane Primary School and opened fire in March 1996.

Documents which were submitted to Lord Cullen's inquiry into the atrocity the same year were subsequently placed under a 100-year Closure Order.

In 2003, the Lord Advocate, Colin Boyd, QC, decided to review material placed under this order. Members of the public will be able to view a number of the files at the National Archives of Scotland in Edinburgh from Monday.

But files containing details of the victims, including photographs, medical reports and post-mortem reports, will still be subject to the Closure Order.

Parents of some of the victims welcomed the move as "a good decision", saying it would lift "remaining veils of secrecy" and dispel a number conspiracy theories raised after the incident.

Mr Boyd said: "It is clear that there remains considerable public interest in the evidence that was provided to Lord Cullen's inquiry and I am pleased to announce that we have now completed the review of the papers subject to the 100-year Closure Order."

Families affected by the tragedy have always been able to view the full documents, and will be unaffected by the move.

On 13 March, 1996, 43-year-old Thomas Hamilton marched into the school and opened fire on teacher Gwen Mayor and her class of five- and six-year-olds, before turning the gun on himself. Lord Cullen's inquiry led to sweeping changes to laws on gun ownership.

Charlie Clydesdale, the father of one of the victims, Victoria, said: "There've been lots of rumours, partly due to the fact that the public haven't had access to these documents, and it's time the last veils of secrecy were lifted."

He added: "I'd like to have been warned in advance about the Lord Advocate's announcement. It will be interesting to see what's in these papers, but I would be very surprised if we learned anything new."

Dr Mick North, a former Stirling University lecturer whose daughter Sophie was another of the children killed, wrote a book about the tragedy and claims to be the only parent to have examined the papers in detail, said it was "a good decision", but the release had taken him by surprise.

Critics of the Closure Order said its length - which compares, for example, with just 30 years for Cabinet papers - had "fuelled a rumour mill" and led to continual speculation that something was being hidden.

In 2003, a newspaper claimed a police report was among the documents suppressed because it revealed links between Hamilton and a number of prominent Scots. Sources suggested a former Cabinet minister gave Hamilton a reference.