Gravestone that killed 8-year-old boy in Glasgow 'wouldn't pass today's safety checks' - says expert
The gravestone which fell and killed an eight-year-old would not be acceptable by today's standards, a fatal accident inquiry heard.
The gravestone which fell and killed an eight-year-old would not be acceptable by today's standards, a fatal accident inquiry heard.
Expert stonemason Peter Hayman said the stone at Craigton Cemetery was made with a limited mortar bed and without dowels for stability.
He said that was not why it fell over, and that tree roots had caused the stone to lean.
Tragic Ciaran Williamson was playing with his friends in the graveyard when he was killed by the gravestone on May 26, 2015.
An inquiry into Ciaran's death is underway at Glasgow Sheriff Court to try and establish if there were any reasonable precautions that could have prevented the tragedy.
Mr Hayman said the granite headstone built in 1920s and would not meet modern safety requirements.
He said it was made using a "very limited mortar" and with no dowels to hold the structure together.
He told the inquiry the gravestone had to be upright to be stable and was forced to lean forwards because of the roots of a nearby tree.
The inqury before sheriff Linda Ruxton continues.