A fatal accident inquiry will examine the circumstances surrounding the death of an 86-year-old Perth man whose body was discovered beside his crashed Mercedes two days after he went missing. According to BBC News, John Winton McNab was found by officers next to his vehicle on the A887 at Invermoriston in the Highlands on 18 September 2022, having last been seen on 13 September.
McNab's grey Mercedes was discovered at approximately 1:20 p.m. on 18 September 2022. He had been reported missing three days after he was last seen, prompting a search operation. The Herald Scotland reported that the vehicle's automatic emergency call system activated following the collision, though officers initially sent to the area were unable to locate the car.
The Crown Office and Procurator Fiscal Service (COPFS) has lodged a first notice to commence the court process for a discretionary fatal accident inquiry. A preliminary hearing is scheduled for 21 December at Falkirk Sheriff Court.
What is a fatal accident inquiry?
Fatal accident inquiries are formal proceedings designed to establish the facts surrounding a death rather than to assign blame or criminal responsibility. They allow for a full public examination of the circumstances and can identify lessons to reduce the risk of similar deaths occurring in future.
What will the inquiry examine?
The focus of the inquiry is expected to centre on the emergency response and search efforts that followed McNab's disappearance. The Herald Scotland indicated that the inquiry will consider whether lessons can be learned to prevent comparable incidents.
Debbie Carroll from COPFS stated:
The death of John McNab occurred in circumstances which the Lord Advocate considers give rise to serious public concern. A fatal accident inquiry will allow a full public examination of the circumstances surrounding his death and of the responses which followed.
How was the incident investigated?
Following the discovery of McNab's body, COPFS instructed the Police Investigations and Review Commissioner (Pirc) to conduct an independent investigation. Police Scotland also referred the circumstances to Pirc, the independent body responsible for overseeing incidents involving the force.
A Pirc spokesperson confirmed that
A report of our findings was submitted to COPFS on 22 March 2023. Our reports to COPFS are confidential for legal reasons and we are therefore unable to provide the detail of those findings.The Daily Record reported that officers were dispatched to the area following the automatic emergency call but were unable to locate the vehicle initially.
What happens next?
The preliminary hearing for the fatal accident inquiry will take place on 21 December at Falkirk Sheriff Court. This hearing will establish the scope and direction of the full inquiry into McNab's death and the response to his disappearance.
