This item was published during the term of a previous administration that ended in April 2007
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Dunblane papers to be made public
28/09/2005
Documents submitted to the Dunblane Inquiry in 1996, and subsequently placed under a 100 year Closure Order, will be available for inspection by members of the public in a redacted form at the National Archives of Scotland from Monday.
Lord Advocate Colin Boyd QC said:
"It is clear that there remains considerable public interest in the evidence that was provided to Lord Cullen's inquiry, and I am pleased to announce that we have now completed the review of the papers subject to the 100-year Closure Order.
"This was always going to be a lengthy process because of the volume of printed documents which had to be carefully and individually examined. All names or other information which would lead to identification of individuals had to be removed from each document to protect the families involved, and to comply with data protection.
"There remain some documents which it is still not possible to make public, because even in an edited form they contain material which is sensitive in nature and could cause further anguish to the families of victims."
On March 13, 1996, 16 children aged between 4 and 6 and their teacher were shot dead in the gymnasium of Dunblane Primary School by a gunman who then killed himself. A public inquiry, chaired by Lord Cullen, was held later the same year.
In 2003 the Lord Advocate pledged to review the material under the 100 year order and determine which, if any, of the documents could be released to the public.
The Closure Order remains in place for the specified 100 years in respect of files 1 to 4. These files contain details of the individual victims, including personal profiles, photographs, medical reports, and post mortem reports.
All of the other documents submitted to the Inquiry will be made available in redacted form. The position of the families, who have always been able to view the full documents, is unaffected by this move.