Several schools walls cordoned off following death

Posted: April 4, 2014

Posted in: Public Place Accidents School Accidents Wrongful & Accidental Death 

Following the death of 12-year-old schoolgirl Keane Wallis-Bennett, multiple walls have been cordoned off around Edinburgh believed to be structurally unstable. Keane was fatally injured after a freestanding wall collapsed and crushed her at Liberton High School on Tuesday. As a result of the shocking incident, structural checks have been carried out across Edinburgh, with many areas being cordoned off as a result.

Similar unstable walls have been identified in the changing rooms and toilets of Leith Academy and Castlebrae High School, alongside eleven of the city’s primary schools. A spokesperson from Edinburgh City Council said that teams had been sent out on Wednesday morning to investigate schools. They reviewed the structural stability of all the primary, secondary, special, and nursery schools — focusing mainly on freestanding walls like the one that collapsed on Keane Wallis-Bennett. These inspections have now come to a close with a total of nine similar walls identified, alongside an additional eleven primary schools with smaller freestanding walls.

“My deepest sympathies are with the family and friends of Keane”

The schools were: Ferryhill, St Mary’s London Street, Cramond, Leith, Leith Walk, Abbeyhill, Royal Mile, Lorne, Brunstane, East Craigs and Gylemuir.

Sue Bruce, the council chief executive, said that the Easter holidays would allow for further checks to be carried out, and any required action to be taken. She added:

“This has been a dreadful incident and my deepest sympathies, and those of my colleagues, are with the family and friends of Keane.”

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