A public inquiry into a Glasgow factory explosion which killed nine people and injured 33 is to be led by one of Scotland's most senior judges, it was announced today.
Lord Gill, who as Lord Justice Clerk is Scotland's second most senior judge, will chair the inquiry into the Stockline factory disaster.
The inquiry will start on April 8 next year.
The appointment of Lord Gill was jointly announced by Scotland's top law officer, Lord Advocate Elish Angiolini, and Work and Pensions Secretary Peter Hain.
Nine people died and 33 were injured in the Stockline plastics plant explosion in May 2004.
ICL Plastics and ICL Tech were fined £400,000 at the High Court in Glasgow in August after admitting health and safety breaches.
The court heard that the explosion which destroyed the factory was caused by a build-up of liquid petroleum gas (LPG) which leaked out of pipework installed in 1969.
The court was told there had been no risk assessment or system of inspection for a stretch of pipework which was originally above ground but was buried in 1974.
Lord Gill, a former chairman of the Scottish Law Commission, took part as an advocate in several major Scottish inquiries, including the Lockerbie disaster.
As a judge he dealt with the 239 civil actions which resulted from the Braer oil tanker spill off Shetland, and was an appeal judge in litigation stemming from the Piper Alpha oil platform disaster in which 167 men died.
The inquiry's terms of reference will be to inquire into the circumstances leading up to the Stockline disaster and to make recommendations on the lessons learned.
Ms Angiolini said: "The events of the 11 May 2004 have a continuing impact on the lives of many people, on all those who were working in the factory that day, on the dozens of people who were injured, and especially on those who lost a loved one.
"This public inquiry will provide an opportunity, not only to fully air the circumstances which led up to that incident, but also to make sure that lessons are learned to help prevent another tragedy like this occurring."
Mr Hain said: "Now that we have a chair in place, and an agreement on the terms of reference, we can ensure that the inquiry will be focused on the events, and the families will not have to wait unduly for answers."
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