Kerslake Report

The family of Barra teenager Eilidh Macleod have praised the emergency services as a report into the response to Manchester bombing is released.

The 14-year-old was among 22 people who died when a suicide attacker detonated a nail bomb at an Ariana Grande concert last May.

Eilidh - who was raised in Vatersay before the family moved to Castlebay - was the only Scot to die in the atrocity.

Her friend Laura MacIntyre was badly injured in the blast.

Over 100 were physically injured and many more suffered psychological and emotional trauma.

A panel headed by Lord Kerslake held an independent review into the preparedness for, and emergency response to, the Manchester Arena attack

Overall the report was “overwhelmingly positive,” praising the police and ambulance service and NHS.

It highlights some of the things that went well and the major lessons to be learnt, including the reasons behind the fire service’s two hour delay in arriving at the scene.

The Macleod family said they think of Eilidh in the “same bright and positive light” that shone from her during her short life.

They highlighted their “respect and admiration” for all the emergency services “remains undiminished.”

In a statement, Eilidh's parents Marion and Roddy, along with her sisters Shona and Laura, said: “As a family, we have considered Lord Kerslake’s report into the Manchester Arena tragedy and the recommendations contained in it.

“We greatly welcome and acknowledge the levels of well-deserved admiration for the numerous acts of heroism the report highlights.

“In particular, we wish to echo the praise awarded to individuals who made life and death decisions by keeping first responders at the arena.

“There is no doubt that these first responders provided the dying and injured with the vital comfort and aid at their time of most need.

“As we approach the first anniversary of her death, we continue to mourn our beloved Eilidh.

“We think of her in the same bright and positive light that shone from her during her short life with us as a daughter and as a sister.

“We also mourn all victims of atrocity.

“It is both right and proper that enquiries and reports should indicate where lessons can be learned in unprecedented situations like the Manchester tragedy.

“We must remain positive that any outcomes from such reports will help to educate and inform individuals, services and heads of service and enable them to act and react with confidence.

“Throughout this whole nightmare our respect and admiration for all the emergency services remains undiminished.”

Family of Eilidh Macleod respond to Manchester bombing report

27 March 2018

Eilidh Macleod died in the Manchester Arena attack