Questions will remain following girl's gorge jump death

The inquiry into the death of Laura McDairmant, 15, a Carlisle schoolgirl, ended yesterday at Kirkcudbright Sheriff Court after 22 days of evidence.

Sheriff Johanna Johnstone will now publish her findings before the end of May.

The inquiry heard that the teenager had been a regular visitor to the Abernethy Trust's Barcaple Outdoor Centre at Ringford, near Castle Douglas, where she enjoyed the outdoor pursuits.

But while taking part in gorge jumping at the Grey Mare's Tail in the Galloway Forest near Newton Stewart in July 2006, she plunged 31ft on to rocks and died the next day from massive head injuries.

She hesitated while taking part in the gorge jumping with other youngsters in the group and slipped and fell on to rocks below.

During the inquiry, officials from the trust, including Barcaple's operations manager, David Pratt, said they did not know gorge jumping was going on at this pool.

A risk assessment document for the site was also criticised and parts of it were described as "vague" by a health and safety inspector who said he did not know whether it was generic or a site-specific assessment.

Advocate David Sheldon, who appeared for the trust, said they accepted and acknowledged responsibility for the accident and were deeply sorry that it had occurred and steps had been taken to ensure that such a terrible accident could not occur again.

He said it appeared jumping had simply become an accepted part of the summer activities at Barcaple.

Scott Toal, procurator-fiscal depute, said all parties were in unanimous agreement that the pool was an unsuitable site.

The trust was fined 16,000 in 2008 after admitting causing the death of Miss McDairmant by breaching health and safety laws.