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Police investigation after Scots champ's death 'inadequate', says his widow

Inquiry into McIntyre's death being held next month...

Police inquiries which followed the death of Scots champion cyclist Jason McIntyre were 'half-hearted' and 'raised more questions than they answered,' according to his widow.

Caroline McIntyre was speaking to the Scotsman newspaper ahead of a fatal accident inquiry (FAI) into the death of her husband, who was hit by a van near Fort William just over two years ago. He had been training in the hope of making Britain's team for the Beijing Olyympics that year.

Robert McTaggart, the driver of the Highland Council Transit van, subsequently pleaded guilty at Fort William Sheriff Court to careless driving. He was fined £500 and banned for six months.

She said: "I know where and when Jason died, but not how or why, and that makes it so difficult for me to come to terms with losing him."

"The police inquiry into his death was so inadequate and half-hearted, it raised more questions than it answered," she added. "They didn't even close the road to investigate the accident scene, and then they examined the wrong part of the road.

"But, despite all that, it's taken two years to get Crown Office officials to agree to hold an FAI."

She also said she wanted to see cyclists better protected on the roads, adding: "There wasn't a more aware cyclist on the road than Jason, but the protection of cyclists has to go up. People who are driving have to remember they are in control, or are not in control, of a dangerous vehicle."

Her solicitor, Patrick McGuire, said he believed there were "a number of strong grounds" for the FAI, being held in Fort William next month.

A spokesman for Northern Constabulary said it would be "inappropriate" to respond to Mrs MacIntyre's allegations.

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3 comments

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skippy | 14 years ago
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ANother life lost to "careless driving" with an inadequate penalty, thus encouraging further bad drivers to think that they too will experience inconvenience but little hardship for their carelessness!
Visit http://tinyurl.com/yab5ya7 where you may decide to follow my example of rewarding "PYGMYS" with publicity!

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OldRidgeback | 14 years ago
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Terrible that it wasn't properly investigated, especially in light of nonsense such as the following occurring:

http://uk.news.yahoo.com/5/20100128/tuk-stunned-driver-fined-for-blowing...

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cat1commuter | 14 years ago
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You've duplicated a big chunk of the text. (Which you've now fixed)

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