Family of firefighter Ewan Williamson push for FAI into his death

THE family of a firefighter killed in the line of duty are to take legal action against Lothian and Borders fire brigade in the hope of finding out why he died.

Ewan Williamson, 35, was killed while tackling a blaze in the Balmoral Bar in Dalry Road in Edinburgh on 12 July, 2009.

Mr Williamson’s mother, Linda, and sisters Rachel and Rebecca, who launched the action against Lothian and Borders Fire & Rescue Board at the Court of Session in Edinburgh, said they believed mistakes were made that night and their legal action was an attempt to get “answers and justice”.

Mr Williamson was the only firefighter in the history of Lothian and Borders Fire & Rescue Service to die fighting a fire.

In a statement issued through Thompsons Solicitors, the family said “enough was enough” and that they could not move on with their lives until they knew what had happened on the night Mr Williamson died.

The family said: “Almost three years have passed since Ewan lost his life and we have waited patiently for the authorities to investigate what happened and either prosecute those they hold responsible or hold a Fatal Accident Inquiry into Ewan’s death … We believe something went wrong that night and we want to know why.

“We had hoped and expected that after all this time and all the investigations carried out by the Health & Safety Executive, the police and an external fire brigade, that the Crown Office would have been able to take a decision on how to proceed.

“The night we lost Ewan turned our lives upside down. Nothing can ever replace him, but we feel that we cannot move on until we know what happened to Ewan and any lessons which should be learned and applied from that night are put into practice. The justice system is taking far too long … Enough is enough.”

Syd Smith, the solicitor representing the family, said the Williamsons had waited long enough for action and answers regarding Ewan’s tragic death. The lack of progress had left them with little choice but to raise an action for damages against his former employer.

A Lothian and Borders Fire & Rescue Service spokeswoman said: “It is of paramount importance to us that we understand the full circumstances of what happened the night Ewan died.

“Our personnel have taken part in thousands of hours’ worth of interviews, with police, the Health & Safety Executive and to assist with our organisation’s own investigation into the circumstances of the incident.”

A spokesman from the Crown Office said: “This is a highly complex investigation … A final investigative report has only recently been received by COPFS [Crown Office and Procurator Fiscal Service].

“The report will now be considered by the Health & Safety Division before a final decision is taken on further proceedings.

“The family have been kept informed of progress.”

SHÂN ROSS