Today at Dumbarton Sheriff Court, the owners of Cameron House Hotel were fined £500,000 for serious safety breaches that led to the fatal fire in December 2017. Christopher O’Malley, a Cameron House porter who put ash inside a cupboard that was deemed the cause of the fire, has been handed an 18 month supervision order and 300 hours of community service.

This has been a tragic case which has taken three years to conclude. The families of Simon Midgley and Richard Dyson – the two men who died in the fire – have been forced to repeatedly relive the horrors and heartbreak of the fatal night in order to fight for answers as to why their loved ones died.

Jackie Baillie, MSP for Dumbarton constituency, has called for a thorough investigation into the cause of the fire and has worked closely with Jane Midgley, the mother of Simon, in her campaign to be given answers as to why her son died. Jackie Baillie has raised the length of time taken to deal with the case directly with both the First Minister and the Crown Office.

Jackie Baillie MSP said:

“This is completely heart-breaking for all involved – not least for the families of Simon and Richard.

“After three long, painful years these families now have an outcome in the court. They are devastated and in a state of shock. This was a tragedy that could have been avoided.

“Had the staff involved been given the proper training needed, and more importantly, had the hotel owners heeded the prior warnings given to them about their safety standards, this tragedy might not have happened.

“The length of time that it has taken for this case to be concluded has caused the families involved undue stress and pain, during what is already an unimaginably difficult time for them.

“My sympathies continue to be with families and loved ones of Simon and Richard.”