Skip to main content
BBC NEWS / SCOTLAND
Graphics VersionBBC Sport Home
News Front Page | Africa | Americas | Asia-Pacific | Europe | Middle East | South Asia | UK | Business | Health | Science & Environment | Technology | Entertainment | Also in the news | Have Your Say |
UK Contents:  England | Northern Ireland | Scotland | Wales | UK Politics | Education | Magazine

Thursday, 25 August 2005, 17:50 GMT 18:50 UK

Findlays readying for Christmas

Daryl Findlay On 22 December 1999, the Findlay family were preparing to celebrate Christmas.

Eleven-year-old Daryl Findlay had won the dancing competition at his school's Christmas disco, while his sister, Stacey, aged 13, was due to sing in her school's carol service that night.

But the Findlays' Christmas turned to tragedy when a gas explosion ripped through their home at 42 Carlisle road in Larkhall, Lanarkshire.

Daryl, Stacey and their parents Andrew, 34, and Janette, 37, were all killed.

'Thirty-feet flames'

A routine police patrol had reported a smell of gas in the area but it came too late and the resulting blast - from a leak under the Findlays' home - could be heard up to four miles away.

Four neighbouring homes were badly damaged. Larkhall resident John McCauley described being woken by the blast to see 30 feet high flames shooting into the air.

Larkhall blast scene

Neighbours began helping those affected by the explosion.

Emergency services found no injured to rescue, instead pulling the bodies of Janette Findlay and her children from the rubble.

Transco confirmed the blast appeared "consistent" with a gas explosion, its workers tried to isolate gas supplies.

However, police and firefighters had to stop their search for Andrew Findlay because of fears of a second explosion.

Local minister Reverend Jim Hastie urged Larkhall residents to "draw strength from one another".

'Exemplary pupil'

Stacey's school - Larkhall Academy - postponed the concert she had been due to participate in.

Stacey Findlay

Her headteacher described Stacey as "the sort of pupil teachers like to teach".

Meanwhile, Daryl's headteacher at Craigbank Primary said he was an exemplary pupil.

It took until the next morning to find Andrew Findlay's body, and local resident began to question Transco about the tragedy.

Archie Dunsmore, whose firm had built the Findlays' home, said the blast must have been caused "by a build-up of gas". He speculated that a central heating pilot light had ignited it.

Speculation continued amid claims that the Findlays' house had been surrounded by the smell of gas for seven years.

On 30 December more than 700 mourners paid tribute to the Findlay family at St Machan's Church in Larkhall.



E-mail this to a friend
Related to this story:
Transco fined £15m for gas blast (25 Aug 05 |  Scotland )
Corporate killing debate goes on (25 Aug 05 |  Scotland )
Gas supply problems after blast (18 Feb 05 |  Scotland )
Relative shouted for blast family (17 Feb 05 |  Scotland )
Blast trial hears of 'war zone' (11 Feb 05 |  Scotland )
Pictures from the Larkhall blast (23 Dec 99 |  Scotland )

RELATED INTERNET LINKS:
Transco
Scottish Court Service
The BBC is not responsible for the content of external internet sites



SEARCH BBC NEWS: 

News Front Page | Africa | Americas | Asia-Pacific | Europe | Middle East | South Asia | UK | Business | Health | Science & Environment | Technology | Entertainment | Also in the news | Have Your Say |
UK Contents:  England | Northern Ireland | Scotland | Wales | UK Politics | Education | Magazine

NewsWatch | Notes | Contact us | About BBC News | Profiles | History

^ Back to top | BBC Sport Home | BBC Homepage | Contact us | Help | ©