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Date set for Cameron House fire fatal accident inquiry

Facebook Richard Dyson and Simon MidgleyFacebook
Richard Dyson, left, and Simon Midgley, who both died, had been on a winter break in Scotland

A fatal accident inquiry (FAI) into a hotel blaze that killed two guests will get under way later this month, a court has heard.

Simon Midgley, 32, and his partner Richard Dyson, 38, died in a fire at Cameron House Hotel, on Loch Lomond, in December 2017.

Hotel operator Cameron House Resort (Loch Lomond) Ltd was previously fined £500,000 over the blaze.

Night porter Christopher O'Malley was also given a community payback order.

A preliminary hearing on Tuesday confirmed an FAI to investigate the incident will be go ahead on 15 August in person at Paisley Sheriff Court.

Lawyers representing Cameron House, staff who worked at the hotel at the time of the fire, the Crown and the Scottish Fire and Rescue Service appeared via video link before Sheriff Thomas McCartney.

The court heard that a statement by the resort manager at the time, Andrew Rogers, is to be received to form part of the evidence ahead of the hearing's start date.

The legal representatives discussed matters regarding physical evidence being provided at the official hearing, including an improved floor plan of the hotel and relevant CCTV footage, and the availability of witnesses.

Sheriff McCartney confirmed the date for hearing submissions following evidence to be 7 November.

PA Media Cameron House Hotel on the banks of Loch Lomond, where the fire wasPA Media
Firefighters arrived within 10 minutes of the 999 call

Dumbarton Sheriff Court heard in January last year that the fire started after night porter O'Malley emptied ash and embers from a fuel fire into a polythene bag and placed it in a cupboard which contained combustibles including kindling and newspapers.

Cameron House Resort (Loch Lomond) Ltd admitted failing to take the fire safety measures necessary to ensure the safety of employees and guests between 14 January 2016 and 18 December 2017.

The company admitted two charges of breaching the Fire (Scotland) Act 2005.

O'Malley admitted breaching sections of health and safety laws which relate to the obligation on an employee to take reasonable care for the health and safety of people affected by their acts or omissions at work.