Fatal Rosepark care home fire inquiry ends
- Published
A total of 14 elderly residents died after the Rosepark fire, in 2004
The hearing into a blaze at a care home which claimed the lives of 14 elderly residents has finished taking evidence.
After sitting for 141 days, the Fatal Accident Inquiry into the Rosepark Care Home fire, in Uddingston in 2004, was adjourned and will reconvene next year.
A criminal case against care home owner Thomas Balmer collapsed in 2007 and charges under a fresh indictment in 2008 were also dropped.
The Crown and other parties in the case will now prepare written submissions.
The inquiry, heard by Sheriff Principal Lockhart at the Gospel Literature Outreach Centre in Motherwell, will reconvene on 27 January at Hamilton Sheriff Court.
He said: "The evidence has now been concluded in this Fatal Accident Inquiry.
"There have been 141 days of evidence. There are 145 lever arch files full of documentary productions.
"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 will be made instead of the usual procedure, which sees the parties involved make them in court.
The inquiry findings, which will be published in due course, aim to establish the full details of the fire and whether any precautions could have been taken at the Lanarkshire care home to avoid the deaths.