Drama in court as Dingwall hotel fire trial collapses
THE trial of an Alness man accused of setting fire to a Ross-shire hotel collapsed in dramatic circumstances today.
Nineteen-year-old Keiran Finlayson of Teaninich Street, Alness had pleaded not guilty to willfully setting fire to the Royal Hotel in Dingwall.
The charge he faced accused him of causing the fire to take effect and causing extensive damage to the hotel and adjacent buildings on February 11, 2013.
But the trial at Dingwall Sheriff Court collapsed earlier today.
Depute fiscal Alison Wyllie told Sheriff James Scott before the jury was brought in for the second day of the trial that, after enquiries made that morning, she was withdrawing the libel.
At its height, around 50 firefighters with eight appliances were invovled tackling the blaze at the building in the heart of the town after fire broke out in the early hours.
The hotel, which is used as a B&B and hostel for the homeless, was left 30 per cent fire damaged.
Residents of nearby flats had to be evacuated and were out of their properties for several days while structural surveys were carried out.
Local business premises below the hotel were affected by fire and smoke damage, and were also closed for several days.
