A mum whose two-year-old daughter was seriously injured in a horrific Fife playpark accident claims information was kept from her during an official investigation.
Almost a year after little Esme Philip was hurt at Letham Glen in Leven, mum Stacey revealed she has just been passed new pictures which could shed light on the incident.
But as the family continues to deal with the emotional fallout, she said Fife Council has closed its inquiry and accepts no responsibility.
Esme, now three, was playing at the glen in July last year when a metal fence surrounding a disability swing crashed down onto her face.
The tot was left screaming in agony and had to undergo surgery to repair a deep wound to her forehead.
Council inquiries suggested bolts had been deliberately removed from the fence some time after an inspection two days earlier.
The bolts were later found on the ground nearby.
But Stacey has now discovered that part of a specialist tool used to unscrew bolts was also found.
“Pictures of what was found were only sent to us last week,” she said.
“Nobody told us about this. Someone must have an incomplete set of tools but were toolboxes even checked?
“It’s shocking that we still don’t know how this happened almost a year down the line.
“It’s all been brushed under the carpet but someone out there must know.”
Disgusted at ‘lack of compassion’ shown
It was 10 months before Stacey and husband Kyle, from Rosyth, felt able to return to a playpark in the wake of Esme’s accident.
And they went back to Letham Glen for the first time just four weeks ago.
Stacey said: “Esme was going down a slide and my two sons were crying because they thought she wasn’t safe.
“Esme was fine but they witnessed the accident and they have mental scarring.
“We’re disgusted by the way Fife Council have carried themselves and the lack of compassion shown.
“At the end of the day, Esme walked into a Fife Council park trusting it was safe and it wasn’t.
“She’s walked away with a massive noticeable facial scar.”
‘Someone is responsible’ for Leven playpark accident
All three youngsters were with grandparents Amanda and Fraser McDonald when the accident happened.
And Amanda revealed she is still having flashbacks.
“For weeks after the accident I was down at the park on a daily basis, sometimes more than once checking out the fence,” she said.
“My grandsons panic when Esme is at a playpark.
“Somebody out there knows why there were three bolts missing from the panel.
“Accidents happen at playparks but this should never have happened.
“Someone is responsible for my beautiful granddaughter being seriously hurt.”
Fife Council: ‘No information withheld from the family’
Fife Council said last year the play equipment must have been tampered with after a routinely-scheduled inspection.
But a police investigation found no evidence of criminality in relation to the accident.
The council has now denied keeping any information from the family.
Service Manager Scott Clelland said: “The corporate investigation and Health and Safety Executive (HSE) overview confirmed that Fife Council followed the industry regulated inspection regime.
“No information was withheld from the family.
“Police Scotland also investigated.”
Fife playpark accident: Who removed bolts that caused metal fence to fall on two-year-old?
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