Final submissions in Rosepark Care Home fire inquiry
The inquiry into the deaths of 14 elderly residents in a care home fire is to hear final submissions before a sheriff makes his deliberation.
The fatal accident inquiry is trying to establish the cause of the Rosepark Care Home blaze, in Uddingston in 2004. It has also been looking at whether any reasonable precautions could have been taken to prevent the deaths and identify any safety defects. Legal action against the home's owners did not result in any convictions. A criminal case against owner Thomas Balmer collapsed in 2007 and charges under a fresh indictment in 2008 were also dropped. The FAI finished taking evidence in August last year after sitting for 141 days and the Crown and other parties in the case have been preparing written submissions. The inquiry is being heard by Sheriff Principal Brian Lockhart and is reconvening at Hamilton Sheriff Court. Before adjourning, Sheriff Principal Lockhart said: "This inquiry has been noteworthy both in respect of the length of the proceedings and the number and complexity of the issues that have arisen." The written submissions have been made instead of the usual procedure, which sees the parties involved make them in court. The hearing will give all parties a final opportunity to make any concluding submissions and may well be relatively brief.