A GRIEVING wife is calling for an overhaul of investigations of deaths on private land over fears that the probe into her husband’s fatal incident was “watered down”.
Blacksmith Robbie Rintoul, 68, was leaving work at Strathore Business Park in Thornton, Fife when he was struck by an HGV in February 2015.
Widow Jean Rintoul, also 68, is now calling for a law change, claiming families are being denied justice due to red tape.
Prosecutors ruled out criminal charges and a fatal accident inquiry (FAI) as Rintoul had finished his day’s work, and police followed a procedure different to that carried out in public areas.
An investigation for the family’s civil action found Police Scotland compile a collision investigation report for fatalities on public roads but on private ones officers complete a sudden death report.
Rintoul’s widow said: “The way Robbie’s death was investigated raises concerns about the way Police Scotland carries out its inquiries.
“If there was a murder on private ground the police would investigate the same as if it were in public so why is a traffic fatality treated differently?
“Those behind these policies need to rethink the investigating, recording and reporting of all deaths because no-one should be left without even a sense of justice because of a difference in process.”
She went on: “There are gaps in the system of how deaths are investigated and I think it’s in the public interest to have these differences explained and rectified. No death should be treated differently just because of who the landowner is.”
Police Scotland declined to comment. A Crown Office spokesman said: “A full and detailed investigation into the death of Mr Rintoul, under the direction of Scottish Fatalities Investigation Unit (SFIU), was completed and after careful consideration of the facts and circumstances of the case, Crown counsel concluded that no further action was required.
“It is incorrect to suggest that because the death was on private ground it was dealt with in a lesser manner. The family was informed of this decision and the reasoning behind it, as were their solicitors on September 9, 2015.”
Rintoul was struck as he walked past a lorry on the site. The incident was caught on CCTV and police say this footage guided their work on the case.
The civil action, against Strathore Plant Hire Ltd, was argued on driver negligence and settled last month, with company bosses paying out an undisclosed sum before it reached court.
Innes Laing of Digby Brown Solicitors, which represented the family, said: “This was a tragic incident for the family to endure. They have shown great strength of character in dealing with the defenders for the last three years. Hopefully, they will now be able to restore some sense of balance and peace to their lives.”
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