A BOY who drowned during a local authority activity course had a
''particular fear'' of water, his father told a fatal accident inquiry
yesterday.
Widower Robert McIntyre, 48, of Balgowan Avenue, Kirkton, Dundee, was
giving evidence at Perth Sheriff Court following the death of his
youngest son Steven, 12, in a swimming pool at Loch Rannoch Hotel,
Kinloch Rannoch, Perthshire, last December 1.
The Lord-Advocate decided it would be in the public interest to hold
an inquiry after the procurator-fiscal at Perth, Mr Iain McLeod,
reported that it appeared that the boy was in the pool with a group of
boys taken there by officials of Tayside Regional Council when he
submerged uncontrollably and drowned.
Mr McIntyre, who has seven surviving children, said that he gave
council social workers his permission to take Steven and his brother
David, 14, on a three-day trip to the council's outdoor centre in
Perthshire.
''I was told they were to get sports and that it was just to give them
a break away from the Kirkton community,'' he said.
''Ski-ing was mentioned and I think pony-trekking, but I don't recall
anything being said about swimming. Neither of the boys could swim and
Steven had a particular fear of water. He was always scared.
''The Social Works Department knew that the boys were non-swimmers.
Steven had been taken to the swimming baths by the department on
previous occasions and each time was issued with arm bands.''
Mr McIntyre said that the day after the boys left, police and social
workers called to tell him there had been a tragic accident.
A forensic scientist, Dr David Sadler, said that a post-mortem
examination had established that Steven was drowned and that he had
previously been in good health.
The inquiry continues.
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