GRIEVING FAMILY IS HIT BY SHOCK No2

THE grieving family of a Black Watch soldier faced fresh agony when police arrived to say he had been in a crash - not realising he had died earlier.

Scott McArdle's aunt Sandra was shocked when officers turned up her home on New Year's Day reporting a hit-and-run accident.

Police had been unable to identify the ailing accident victim but, from records, found that 22-year-old Scott matched his description.

But the police were unaware the Black Watch private had been killed by an Iraqi suicide bomber on November 22.

When Ms McArdle, 44, explained, the officers apologised and left. Now

police chiefs say the problem arose because the soldier's death had not yet appeared on their records.

But speaking from Glenrothes, Fife, Ms McArdle said the error had piled further misery on the family: "We had already been through a lot of pain and then the police made it even worse. When we complained, we got an unsatisfactory apology. They had no time for us."

Inspector David McCulloch, of Fife police, said: "Scott's name came up, along with others, as we were checking records to identify the acci- dent victim whose condition was life-threatening... I offer my sincere apologies and would be happy to meet Scott's familyto do so in person."

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