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The transcripts, almost all of the submissions, the petitions and publications are open to the public. Where submissions are closed to public access, this is indicated in item-level descriptions. Original productions are closed to public access for 100 years. Copies of most productions are available for public access, many in redacted form. General public correspondence with the inquiry and Lord Cullen's working papers are closed for 30 years, with longer closures on some items. |
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On the morning of 13 March 1996, Thomas Hamilton entered the gymnasium at Dunblane Primary School, Perthshire and opened fire with a handgun at a Primary 1 class waiting there. He killed the class teacher and 16 children, and injured a further 17 people (3 adults and 14 children). The majority of the victims were between 5 and 6 years old. He then killed himself.
On 21 March 1996 both Houses of Parliament resolved that a Tribunal should be established to inquire into the incident. The Rt Hon Michael Forsyth MP, then Secretary of State for Scotland, appointed Lord Cullen, a senator of the College of Justice, to conduct the inquiry under section 1 of the Tribunals of Inquiry (Evidence) Act 1921. Lord Cullen had previously conducted the inquiry into the Piper Alpha oilrig disaster.
Lord Cullen's terms of reference from the Secretary of State were: 'To inquire into the circumstances leading up to and surrounding the events at Dunblane Primary School on Wednesday 13 March 1996, which resulted in the deaths of 18 people; to consider the issues arising therefrom; to make such interim and final recommendations as may seem appropriate; and to report as soon as practicable.'
Preliminary investigations for the Inquiry were conducted under the authority of the Lord Advocate. A preliminary hearing was held at the Albert Halls, Stirling on 1 May 1996, at which procedural matters were dealt with and submissions invited from interested parties. The Inquiry itself was held at the Albert Halls over 26 days, opening 29 May and closing 10 July 1996.
Lord Cullen's report on the Inquiry was published in October 1996 (Cm 3386). |