Lord Advocate apologises after families made to wait 12 years to be told there will be no FAI into South Uist tragedy

The Lord Advocate has apologised over delays that added to the grief of families of five people who were killed in a causeway accident more than 10 years ago.

James Wolffe QC said the way in which the families of Archie and Murdina Macpherson and Calum Campbell were treated following the incident was “unacceptable” after they waited 12 years to be told no fatal accident inquiry would be held.

Mr Campbell, his daughter, her husband and their two children died as the family tried to escape a major storm in South Uist which swept their cars off the road and into the sea.

The families were told at one point that the Crown Office was “too busy” to deal with the case.

Prosecutors were only informed of the tragedy one month after it occurred. Mr Wolffe said in a letter to the families: “It is not clear why it took until then for the deaths to be reported.”

He also expressed “deep disappointment” at the delays.