T in the Park organisers are facing growing pressure today after pathologists ruled that all three deaths at this year’s festival were drug-related.
29-year-old father-of-three Jim Richardson, Argyll teenager Peter McCallum, 17, and fellow 17-year-old Megan Bell were all found dead at the event in Pertshire in July.
Both teenagers, whose deaths are said to be unconnected, died at the temporary hospital facility at the Strathallan Castle site.
A verdict of “presumed drugs related” has now been recorded for all three incidents, while the circumstances around Mr Richardson’s death and Police Scotland’s initial response remain under review.
The findings come just days after the father of Megan Bell called for organisers to scrap the event until a full investigation is carried out into her death.
The Press and Journal reported yesterday how Mr MacCallum had also launched an online petition to raise the age restrictions for music festivals in the wake of his daughter’s death.
He stated: “The stories that we heard since mainly include youths taking drugs and drinking heavily.
“I strongly believe that an adult would not experiment or adhere to peer pressure like a child would.”
In a statement issued through Police Scotland, they said: “We hope that people, especially the younger members of society, learn a lesson from Peter’s death and that they don’t put their families through the devastation we are experiencing now.”
The deaths have thrown into question the future of the festival at Strathallan, with organisers requiring a new licence from Perth and Kinross council to continue at the site from next year.
A spokesman for organisers DF Concerts said: “We are devastated by these deaths, however, we believe the families should be allowed to grieve in peace.”
