Tragic Christmas Day driver laid to rest

By Cara Sulieman

A TRAGIC driver who died on Christmas Day after crashing on the icy Scottish roads will be laid to rest next week.

Malcolm Reid suffered fatal injuries in the accident on the A90 Forfar to Brechin Road at around 1pm on Christmas Day.

The 71-year-old died at the scene despite the efforts of a medical trauma team and ambulance crew.

His wife June – who was travelling in the car with him – will be joined by his children and grandchildren at the service at Mortonhall Crematorium Main Chapel on Monday January 11.

June, 73, was seriously injured in the smash, and was treated for bruising and internal injuries at Ninewells Hospital in Dundee.

The couple were driving along the A90 just hours after it had reopened after black ice closed parts of the dual carriageway.

Malcolm’s children and their partners – Carolyn, Mike, Lynda and Lex – will be joining June at the funeral at 3pm on Monday.

Teenager who set his girlfriend ablaze sentenced to life

Jessica McCagh

By Paul Thornton

A CRUEL teenager who soaked his girlfriend in petrol before setting her on fire after she threatened to dump him will spend a minimum of 21 years behind bars.

Jealous Stewart Blackburn, 18, doused Jessica McCagh, 17, and set her ablaze to die in agony after she told friends she was going to leave him.

Even as Jessica burned to death in Blackburn’s small Arbroath bedroom, the sick killer – who later said he did it because he was “in a huff” – held the door closed to stop her escaping or getting help.

Pretty Jessica suffered 85 per cent fourth-degree burns and, despite desperate efforts to save her passed away in Dundee’s Ninewells Hospital later the same day.

Scots could profit from Sir Fred Goodwin

By Andrea McCallum

SCOTS could make a tidy sum if the fortunes of Sir Fred Goodwin take a turn for the worse this year.

An online bookie has offered odds of 100-1 that the shamed banker will go bust in 2010.

And if the former RBS chief executive is declared bankrupt the cash will flow back into tax-payers pockets.

Tragic Waverley fall dad named

By Michael MacLeod

POLICE have named the tragic dad who died two days before Christmas after falling in a railway station.

James Clark, 47, of Dundee, was holding a two-year-old girl when he hit his head at Edinburgh’s Waverley station.

Passers-by, including an off duty doctor, tried to resuscitate James after the fall, while the little girl with blonde curly hair looked on.

But he later died in the city’s Royal Infirmary, and British Transport Police have launched an investigation to establish whether he slipped or collapsed.

A spokesman said: “Enquiries are ongoing into the circumstances surrounding his death although at this stage there do not appear to be any suspicious circumstances.

“A full report will be submitted to the local Procurator Fiscal by Lothian and Borders Police.”

Lothian and Borders Police said that they expect to release more details on Wednesday.

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Man carrying two-year-old girl dies after freak fall

By Rory Reynolds

A MAN has died after slipping and falling at Edinburgh Waverley train station yesterday morning.

The 47-year-old was carrying a young girl – thought to be two or three years old – when he fell behind a Marks and Spencer truck on the main concourse at the station.

Witnesses said that he hit his head on the floor when he fell – leaving him with serious head injuries.

Passer-bys tried to resuscitate him before the ambulance arrived and rushed him to Edinburgh Royal Infirmary where he later died.

The manager at Upper Crust sandwich shop said that his friend had been helping unload the delivery truck when the tragedy happened.

FLYGLOBESPAN: collapse of firm means heartache for thousands of holidaymakers and travellers

By Andrea McCallum

STUNNED travellers turned up at Edinburgh Airport unaware about the collapse of Flyglobespan – only to learn their plans had been left in ruins.

Some had travelled from as far afield as Aberdeen and Dundee to learn the news, others were en-route for family Christmas reunions abroad.

Amid the tears and anger, Flyglobespan staff themselves out of a job, were no-where to be seen, their vacant bookings desk commandeered by stand in airport staff offering only the best advice they could muster.

A Flyglobespan plane which had arrived from Egypt the night before – possibly the last ever in the history of the company – remained parked on the tarmac, abandoned in the snow just like the passengers left stranded in the departure lounge.

And on the information boards where details of flights leaving at 9am to Faro and 11am to Alicante, nothing, no details, not even a cancellation notice.

They no longer existed, leaving passengers in shock.

Caroline Spence, 64, lives in Spain with her partner Ian, 64, but had been home for eight weeks caring for her daughter Claire in Aberdeen.

The 35-year-old had recently undergone major spinal surgery following an accident, and was being looked after 24/7 by her mum until she returned back to Alicante for Christmas, her flight supposed to leave yesterday.

They travelled down from Aberdeen yesterday morning, Claire still on crutches, only to learn of the problems when they arrived.

Caroline said: “I’ve got to get back for Christmas. Ian is in Spain. My partner will be alone for Christmas if I don’t get home.

“We only found out this morning when we arrived in the airport.

“We heard nothing on the radio.”

Fire tragedy pensioner named by police

By Shaun Milne

A PENSIONER who died in a horrific house fire despite the heroic attempts of her elderly husband to save her was named by police yesterday.

Doreen Cree, 68, perished in a downstairs flat she shared in Dundee with her husband Rab, when the blaze broke out around Midnight on Saturday.

It was thought he had tried to fight the flames at the inferno which engulfed their home on Kenmore Terrace but was beaten back by the flames.

He arrived home to discover it ablaze with his wife trapped inside, and attempted to douse the flames by throwing buckets of water at them after alerting the fire brigade.

Fire-fighters using breathing apparatus then forced their way into the front room and recovered Doreen, but she died from heart failure on her way to Ninewells Hospital in Dundee.

Mr Cree was left shocked, but uninjured, in the tragedy.

Neighbours said the couple had only recently celebrated their 50 wedding anniversary.

Investigations into the fatal blaze were still ongoing yesterday, with a Christmas tree and melted decorations still visible at their house.

No cause has yet been given but Tayside Police said a report would be sent to the Procurator Fiscal.

The fire was not thought to be suspicious.

Martin Tait, from Tayside Fire and Rescue Service, said the fire seemed to have been contained to the front room area where Mrs Cree had been.

He said: “Any death at any time of year is tragic, but at this time of year even more so.”

See more of our pictures at our Flickr site and videos at our dedicated channel,  Deadline TV.

Schoolgirl falls 90ft after horror handlebar flip

By Rory Reynolds

A TEENAGE girl is tonight in hospital after flipping over her bike handlebars and plunging 90-feet down a gorge.

The 16-year-old high school pupil was airlifted to hospital by RAF helicopter after a biking trip in Perthshire went wrong.

A brave local GP managed to reach the bottom of the gorge, where the girl was left lying with stomach injuries for up to an hour-and-a-half.

Rescuers said the pupil from Menzieshill High School in Dundee was “very lucky” to survive.

She had been on an Ancrum Outdoor Centre trip at Rumbling Bridge, in Dunkeld, Perthshire yesterday (Wednesday).

It’s a blubby birthday as telly fave Lorraine Kelly turns fifty

By Michael MacLeod

BLUBBING Scots telly babe Lorraine Kelly was in floods of tears yesterday as celebrities from across the globe wished her a happy 50th birthday.

Stars including film hunk Gerry Butler, The Bee Gees, Peter Andre and Ricky Gervais sent surprise messages while she presented yesterday morning’s GMTV.

Looking wholesome as ever in revealing tartan dress, the big-hearted Dundee mum couldn’t hold back the tears as youngsters from the Black Watch Army Cadets also passed on their best wishes.

In a morning packed full of surprises, Lorraine was relieved from her usual presenting duties by another TV queen, Paul O’Grady, with the set adorned with balloons.

The camp star leapt onto the GMTV set and whipped off his bowtie, treating Lorraine to an impromptu birthday strip-show.

Tributes for woman who died after being hit by a car

Fiona Clason

By Cara Sulieman

 

FRIENDS have paid touching tributes to a young woman who died after being hit by a car at the weekend.

Fiona Clason died at the Western General Hospital in Edinburgh on Monday, the day after she was struck by a car on the capital’s waterfront.

The family of the 24-year-old were too upset to speak yesterday (Thurs) but friends of Ms Clason left touching messages on her social networking profile.

The University of Dundee graduate described herself as a fan of Hibs, Formula 1 racing and American Wrestling on her Facebook page.