Head teacher death inquiry call

Irene Hogg's family have called for an inquiry

Relatives of a head teacher thought to have taken her own life after a critical school inspection have demanded a fatal accident inquiry.

The body of Irene Hogg, 54, was found in a remote part of the Scottish Borders at the end of March.

Her family claim she was the victim of work-related stress, and fear her council employers may have ignored her pleas for help.

Miss Hogg had been head teacher at Glendinning Primary in Galashiels.

Her brother Roger Hogg, 47, has attempted to obtain copies of e-mails she sent to Scottish Borders Council in the period leading up to the inspection but the request has been refused.

A freedom of information request made by Mr Hogg, who lives in Australia, to establish what was said at a meeting between Miss Hogg and Her Majesty's Inspectorate of Education officials have also been denied.

Miss Hogg's leadership at the school is believed to have been criticised during the meeting but the council has said it cannot divulge any details because of an ongoing police investigation.

Search operation

The full school report is expected to be published next month.

Mr Hogg said an inquiry was necessary to establish exactly what caused his sister's death.

Officers from Lothian and Borders Police are currently interviewing people who spoke to Miss Hogg in the last few days of her life.

They will submit a report and it will then be up to the Crown office to decide whether a fatal accident inquiry should be held.

A full-scale search operation was launched when Miss Hogg did not return to work after Easter Monday.

Her body was discovered next to a burn near Towford Outdoor Centre in the Cheviot Hills, on 26 March.

It is understood tests carried out following her death have so far proved inconclusive.

She had been a teacher for 33 years and head teacher at Glendinning Primary for 19 years.