Dunblane inquiry excuses a missing girl from giving evidence

The Dunblane inquiry excused a missing girl from giving evidence yesterday after hearing how she had been "trapped in hell" since the massacre. Victoria Haggar, 15, disappeared from her Aberdeen home last Saturday. She had written to the inquiry chairman, Lord Cullen, saying she had nightmares about Thomas Hamilton. The terror returned when Hamilton killed 16 children and their teacher in March.

The girl had accompanied her mother when she went to a camp at Loch Lomond in 1988 run by Hamilton. Victoria's brother, Andrew, was attending the camp and their mother told the inquiry she went along to keep an eye on Hamilton.

Yesterday Ian Bonomy QC, for the Crown, told the inquiry in Stirling that Victoria's evidence was covered by other witnesses and Lord Cullen said she would not have to attend.

Grampian Police said yesterday that Victoria was still missing although it was hoped she would now return home. In a book of poems left at mother's house last Saturday, Victoria said she was "trapped in a private hell".