Preliminary hearing into youngster's death at Craigton Cemetery held
Ciaran Williamson was killed by a gravestone in May 2015.
The first preliminary hearing for a fatal accident inquiry into the death of an eight-year-old boy killed by a gravestone has taken place.
Tragic Ciaran Williamson was playing with friends in Craigton Cemetery on May 26, last year, when the stone fell on him.
An inquiry into his death is due to take place at Glasgow Sheriff Court in November to try and establish if there was any reasonable precautions that could have prevented the tragedy.
And, to establish if there were any defects in the system of working which caused or contributed to Ciaran’s death.
The initial hearing at the court was told that there was a previous alleged incident at the cemetery.
Yesterday Mark Gibson, representing Ciaran’s mum Stephanie Griffin told the court: “It’s certainly the mother’s position given there was a previous accident at the location involving a memorial stone which fell on a boy age 14 at the time, less than five years prior.
“I think it is necessary to hear from that boy and the police who dealt with the inquiry to work out the circumstances surrounding that particular incident and whether that boy was pushing at the stone or whether he was simply walking past.”
Sheriff Linda Ruxton said that it would “not be appropriate” to look at evidence about a different incident with different circumstances at the inquiry.
Another issue which is still to be decided is if the children who were there at the time of the incident involving Ciaran should give evidence at the inquiry.
It was heard that they gave tape-recorded interviews to the police after the incident.
The sheriff said: “My initial view is that unless there is good reason for the children to give evidence then I would certainly prefer to see their evidence dealt with without the need for them to relive matters, unless that’s going to be of particular assistance.”
A further preliminary hearing was set for September.