Crane company ex-employee admits inexperience to inquiry

An employee did not have enough experience to oversee the safety procedures of a crane that was partially to blame for the death of a mother and her two children.

Brian Groves told a fatal accident inquiry at Stonehaven Sheriff Court into the death of Ann Copeland and her daughters Ciara and Niamh that he did not have “any previous experience” in the maintenance of the cranes.

Mrs Copeland lost control of her car on a bend on the A92 in Aberdeenshire and crashed into an oncoming Citroen Berlingo. The Scottish Environment Agency (SEPA) found that hydraulic fluid from a crane using the same road had “significantly reduced grip on the road”.

Owner of the company of the crane Lawrence White is due to appear at the inquiry tomorrow.