A night porter who caused a blaze which killed two hotel guests has told an inquiry he “didn’t realise” putting ash into a plastic bag was dangerous.
Christopher O’Malley gave evidence at a Fatal Accident Inquiry into the deaths of Simon Midgley, 32, and Richard Dyson at Cameron House Hotel in December 2017.
Last year, the 37-year-old, of Renton, admitted failing to take reasonable care for the health and safety of others after emptying ash from a fireplace into a plastic bag and then putting it in a cupboard of kindling and newspapers at the five-star Loch Lomond resort.
He was sentenced to a community payback order with 300 hours of unpaid work.
Cameron House Resort (Loch Lomond) Ltd was also fined £500,000 after pleading guilty to failing to take the necessary fire safety measures to ensure the safety of its guests and employees.
At Paisley Sheriff Court this morning, O’Malley was questioned by Advocate Depute Graeme Jessop, who asked if he was aware putting ash in a plastic bag was a fire hazard.
He replied: “I am more aware now than I was then. At the time I didn’t realise that it was such a dangerous thing to do.”
The inquiry has heard O’Malley emptied ash from the Cameron Grill restaurant in the early hours of the Monday morning before placing it in a metal bucket and later decanting the contents into the bag.
On the ashes, he said: “I didn’t think it would be a fire hazard five hours later. I didn’t realise they would retain heat for as long.”
Yesterday, the inquiry heard from night manager Ann Rundell who said she had reprimanded another night porter for using a plastic bag to clear out a fireplace – three days before O'Malley used the same practice.
She said she asked the staff member ‘what the f*** do you think you’re doing?’ while O’Malley was “within earshot”.
Mr Jessop asked: “Why having seen [the night porter] being told by Ann Rundell on Friday morning did you put ash into a plastic bag on Sunday morning?”
He replied: “I can’t remember what she actually said.
“She didn’t do it in a way that stuck in my head I guess.”
The inquiry has previously heard that bins used to dispose ash at the back of the hotel were full, with O’Malley saying he had reported it to night manager Darren Robinson.
Robinson previously told the inquiry he had emailed two senior managers about the overflowing bins but said no action was taken.
The inquiry heard O’Malley, who started working at the hotel in April 2017, had used the same plastic bag over two consecutive nights to empty ash in.
The bag was used in the early hours of Sunday morning before being placed in the concierge cupboard and used again on Monday morning.
Mr Jessop asked: “You left your shift [on Sunday] having left the ashes within the plastic polythene bag within the concierge cupboard?”
He replied: “I forgot they were until the end of my shift.
“I figured the ash bins would be empty and I would empty it in the ash bins that night.”
It was also heard that O’Malley didn’t tell police officers he had placed ashes into the concierge cupboard when initially questioned after the blaze.
When asked why, he stated: “It didn’t occur to me until later that it had been the cause.
“It didn’t enter my head that it could have been what caused it.”
O’Malley was asked about his actions when the fire was discovered after the hotel’s pre-alarm system was activated at around 6.30am.
He said he went to investigate the cause and climbed a stairwell to the first floor.
On seeing smoke, he said he sent a radio message to the night manager.
He then made his way back down to reception and opened the door of the concierge cupboard to “flames”, saying: “I kind of backed off. I got a fright obviously.
“I remember trying to use a fire extinguisher. I tried to use it but it didn’t work.”
After the full alarm was activated, O’Malley said he helped guests evacuate the modern accommodation block by knocking on doors and directing them to fire exits.
More than 200 guests fled the burning building and initially assembled on a grassed area at the front of the hotel before heading to the Boat House.
When asked what the atmosphere was like, O’Malley stated: “Speaking personally I was quite panicked. I assume most other people would be the same.”
He said he "helped out as best as I could" at the Boat House, while staff handed out food, drinks and blankets.
He stated that a staff member was sent to a nearby supermarket to buy clothing for guests and said he remembered handing out colouring books to children.
Mr Jessop asked: "Did you become aware at some time that there appeared to be two guests missing?"
He replied: "Yes, I think it was quite a while."
O’Malley was questioned on what training he had received at the hotel and stated he had carried out some online training, including on different types of fire extinguishers.
Mr Jessop asked: “What training did you have in relation to fire safety?”
“None, I don’t think”, he said.
He said he hadn't received training on evacuating the hotel and was further asked what training he had in relation to disposing of ash, replying: “The first night I started, or second, another night porter cleaned it while I watched and that basically was it.”
The inquiry before Sheriff Thomas McCartney continues.
