Major admits role in cadet's death

Nov 9 2012

The parents of a teenage cadet who drowned during a training exercise have said an Army major has taken "the only honourable route" in admitting his role in her death.

Kaylee McIntosh, 14, died when she was pinned under a boat on Loch Carnan, South Uist, in the Outer Hebrides, in August 2007. The schoolgirl, from Fyvie in Aberdeenshire, was one of 34 cadets taking part in the three-boat exercise.

A rescue effort was launched but an error in the head-count by organisers meant she was not found under the upturned hull until over three hours after the initial mayday call was made. A fatal accident inquiry was held in 2008, led by Sheriff Alasdair MacFadyen. He listed steps which could have prevented Kaylee's death.

Major George McCallum, 52, from Peterhead, Aberdeenshire, was in charge of the boating operation. At Inverness Sheriff Court he admitted a charge under the Health and Safety at Work Act 1974, which set out his failure to adequately plan and assess the risks involved in the safe transportation of cadets by boat and his failure to safely carry out the transportation. He will be sentenced on Monday November 19.

In a statement, Kaylee's parents Lesley and Derek McIntosh said: "We welcome that Major McCallum has taken the only honourable route available and pleaded guilty to the charge against him, arising from the significant role he played in the wholly unnecessary death of our beloved daughter Kaylee.

"By pleading guilty, Major McCallum has at least spared us the ordeal of sitting through a further legal hearing analysing the dreadful detail of Kaylee's last moments and the unforgivable catalogue of errors that led to her death.

"However, Major McCallum is only one of a number of people who have to answer for their actions on the day Kaylee was taken from us. Our campaign does not stop here and we will continue to press the Crown Office to bring charges against several others implicated in the death of our daughter."

Glen Millar, a partner at Thompsons Solicitors which is acting on behalf of Mr and Mrs McIntosh, said: "It has to be borne in mind, however, that both the marine accident investigation report and the findings of a two-week fatal accident inquiry were quite clear to the effect that Major McCallum was but one of a group identified as having a role in Kaylee's death."

Brigadier Paul Harkness, commander of 51 Scottish Brigade, said: "The Army is extremely sorry about the events that led to the tragic death of Cadet Kaylee McIntosh and for the loss suffered by her family in particular. We apologise unreservedly for any failures by the Ministry of Defence which contributed to her death.

"We continue to do our utmost to ensure that those involved have been kept informed of significant developments. The Ministry of Defence will continue to offer support to the McIntosh family for as long as they require it. The Ministry of Defence has already learned lessons from this tragic incident and taken steps to prevent a recurrence. When it becomes available we will review the Health and Safety Executive's report and take action to address any additional areas of concern."