LETTERS between Labour and Tory ministers and correspondence
relating to Thomas Hamilton's alleged involvement with
Freemasonry are part of a batch of more than 100 documents
about the Dunblane mass murder which have been sealed from
public sight for 100 years.
The documents include a letter connected to Hamilton,
which was sent by George Robertson, currently head of Nato,
to Michael Forsyth, who was then Secretary of State for
Scotland.
Until now it was thought that a 100-year public secrecy
order had only been placed on one police report into
Hamilton which allegedly named high-profile politicians and
legal figures. However, a Sunday Herald investigation has
uncovered that 106 documents, which were submitted to the
Dunblane inquiry in 1996, were also placed under the
100-year rule.
The Scottish Executive has claimed the 100-year secrecy
order was placed on the Central Police report, which was
drafted in 1991 five years before the murders, to protect
the identities of children named in the report. Hamilton had
allegedly abused a number of children prior to his 1996 gun
attack on Dunblane primary school in which 16 primary one
children and a teacher died before Hamilton turned his gun
on himself.
However, only a handful of the documents, which the
Sunday Herald has discovered to be also subject to the
100-year rule, relate to children or name alleged abuse
victims.
The most intriguing document is listed as: 'Copy of
letter from Thomas Hamilton to Dunblane parents regarding
boys' club, and flyer advertising Dunblane Boys' Sports
Club. Both sent to Rt Hon Michael Forsyth, MP, Secretary of
State for Scotland, by George Robertson MP.' Also closed
under the 100-year rule is a 'submission to Lord James
Douglas Hamilton, MP, Minister of State at the Scottish
Office, concerning government evidence to the Inquiry'.
Another document relates to correspondence between the
clerk of the Dunblane inquiry, which was presided over by
Lord Cullen, and a member of the public regarding 'possible
affiliations of Thomas Hamilton with Freemasonry ... and
copy letters from Thomas Hamilton'.
SNP deputy justice minister, Michael Matheson, said: 'The
explanation to date about the 100 -year rule was that it was
put in place to protect the interests of children named in
the Central Police report. How can that explanation stand
when children aren't named? The 100-year rule needs to be
re-examined with respect to all documents.'
Matheson has written to the Lord Advocate, Colin Boyd,
asking why the 100-year rule applies and how it can be
revoked. He has so far had no response. He also asked First
Minister Jack McConnell to explain the reasons for the
100-year order but received 'no substantial answer'.
Matheson is to write to Colin Boyd a second time, in the
light of the discovery that more than 100 other documents
are also sealed, asking him to account for the decision.
A spokeswoman for the Crown Office said: 'In consultation
with the Crown Office and the Scottish Office, Lord Cullen
agreed that in line with the age of some of the individuals
involved and named in the inquiry, the closure period would
be 100 years. The Lord Advocate is considering issuing a
redacted copy of the productions, which would blank out
identifying details of children and their families. A
decision on this has yet to be made.'
Other sealed key reports on Dunblane include:
A 'comparative analysis of Thomas Hamilton' by Central
Scotland Police
Information about Hamilton's 'use and possession of
firearms'
Pathology reports, Hamilton's autopsy report, and
analysis by Glasgow University's forensic science lab on
blood, urine and liver samples from Hamilton's body
Details on firearms licensing policies
A review by Alfred Vannet, regional procurator fiscal of
Grampian, Highland and Islands, of 'reports and information
in respect of Thomas Hamilton submitted to the procurator
fiscals of Dumbarton and Stirling by Strathclyde Police and
Central Police'
A psychological report on Hamilton
Guidance from the British Medical Association on
granting firearms licences
'Transcript of and correspondence relating to
answering-machine tape which accidentally recorded
conversation between police officers at the scene of the
Dunblane incident'
Correspondence and witness statements 'relating to
allegations of sexual abuse made against Hamilton'
02 March 2003