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Family of Skye mum killed at Inverness motoring event welcome inquiry

Joy Robson was killed at the Inverness Snowman Rally
Joy Robson was killed at the Inverness Snowman Rally

Prosecutors have announced a landmark fatal accident inquiry will be held into the death of a heroic Skye mum during the famous Snowman Rally near Loch Ness.

Joy Robson died when she was hit by an out-of-control car at the February 2013 event as she pushed a schoolboy out of harm’s way.

And now, the tragedy will be part of an unprecedented joint inquiry which will also examine the deaths of three people in a rally in the Scottish Borders a year later.

Mrs Robson’s family, who have campaigned for the probe since she died, welcomed the announcement.

Mrs Robson, a nursery assistant from Portree, was watching the race at a hairpin bend in Lochletter Woods, Balnain, when a Honda Civic left the track, rolled and struck her during the first stage of the Snowman Rally.

Witnesses described how the heroic 50-year-old saved the life of an eight-year-old Inverness boy by stepping in front of him and pushing him away just a split second before the car landed on them.

The following year, on May 31, 2014, a similar incident led to the deaths of 64-year-old Iain Provan, 63-year-old Elizabeth Allan, and 71-year-old Len Stern, on a stage of the Jim Clark Rally near Coldstream.

The tragedies sparked calls for an FAI into the two incidents and yesterday the Crown Office confirmed the hearing would be held.

The court hearing will be a legal first.

Andrew Henderson, the lawyer representing Mrs Robson’s family, said: “This announcement by the Crown Office has been welcomed by Joy’s family who always felt that only a fatal accident inquiry could provide them with the answers about events that led to their mother’s death.

“They were also greatly concerned that unless lessons were learned through the FAI process more families could be affected by tragic accidents at motorsport rallies.

“Sadly they were proved to be correct as the awful events at the Jim Clark rally in 2014 have shown.

“Joy’s family have always been motivated by the belief that rallying in Scotland can be made safer for everyone and the decision by the Crown Office to hold this joint FAI is a very important part of that process.”

The organisers of the Snowman Rally and the Highland Car Club declined to comment last night.

The Crown Office said there would be no criminal proceedings in relation to either event, but that this “may be reconsidered should additional evidence come to light”.

After the deaths, the Scottish Government ordered a nationwide safety review which recommended a mandatory licensing scheme for volunteer marshals, ground rules for helping cars back on to the road, improved communications with spectators, and safety plans for each rally stage.

An energetic fundraiser for the RNLI, Mrs Robson was in charge of a nursery of 11 at Macdiarmid Primary School, Skeabost Bridge, and was a residency officer at the Portree High School hostel, supervising pupils at mealtimes.

Rev Wilson described her as “a Gaelic-speaking Geordie who was a fanatical supporter of Newcastle United and a season ticket-holder”.

The Crown Office said the court hearing would be the first under new laws which allow for a single FAI to be held in relation to deaths in different parts of Scotland.

A spokesman said: “Following investigations into two separate fatal accidents at motor sport events, the Crown Office will use new legislation to hold, for the first time, a joint fatal accident inquiry.

“Crown Counsel has instructed a fatal accident inquiry to examine the full circumstances surrounding the deaths and help to avoid such incidents happening in the future.”

He added: “The two events hold similar questions in relation to spectator safety at rallies and the Lord Advocate considers that it is in the public interest that these issues be explored together.

“The Crown is liaising with the Sheriff Principal to identify an appropriate location and dates for the fatal accident inquiry to take place.”