Published: Wednesday, 10th March, 2010 3:44pm

My Sons Deserve The Truth

DOTING DAD: Jim Griffin with sons Jake and Sam

A mum claims her sons have been denied the truth over their father's death.

Last week Sheriff Carole Cunningham released her judgement following an 11-day Fatal Accident Inquiry into the death of Drongan mineworker, Jim Griffin, 40.

The sheriff ruled that Jim had died of "massive crush injuries" at the site near Dalmellington on January 24, 2008. Ayr Sheriff Court heard that the dad-of-two would not have been crushed to death if a brake safety device had been in place on his dumper truck.

But Kim Graham, 42, told the Chronicle that her partner of 24-years and the father of her sons had already predicted another accident following the deaths of Brian French and Colin Ferguson who were crushed by a 100 tonne truck at Pennyvenie less than a year earlier.

Kim said: "What the drivers were doing was custom and practice. Jim told me it would happen again. And it did."

Kim says the hardest part of the FAI is that her sons, Jake aged 9, and Sam 4, have been denied the truth.

She added: "I can understand what's happened but I've got two wee boys who will grow up and who will ask questions.

"The fatal accident inquiry was the chance for them to give my sons the truth, and to tell my sons exactly what happened to their dad. They've taken that away from us."

A spokesman for Scottish Coal said: "Scottish Coal contributed fully to the Inquiry and is satisfied with the findings of the Sherff's report."

FOR THE FULL STORY SEE THE CHRONICLE MARCH 10 EDITION