COPS have paid their condolences to a widower whose wife was knocked down and killed by a marked police van more than five weeks after the tragedy.
Chris McCarron, 71, told how his family was struggling to come to terms with the loss of Margaret, 58.
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He hopes a probe by watchdogs will shed light on the horror which happened near their home in Motherwell, Lanarkshire, last month.
But weeks after promising to see him person, officers have finally visited the widower to pay their respects and apologise for top brass not coming themselves.
Chris said: “They came to give their condolences five weeks down the line. They were letting me know that if there was anything they could do to let them know.
“But I said ‘like what?’ They weren’t able to answer that. I don’t know what else they can offer to help me at this stage.
“I said it’s terrible what had happened.
“A liaison officer had tried to organise the visit weeks ago. But she wasn’t able to give me a date. They kept calling and I said it was going on longer than I thought.
“I said if this is not sorted out in a week, tell them just not to bother. I don’t want to go over the matter time and time again.
“But now they’ve come. They were more or less apologising that one of their senior members should have come some time ago. But the official guy was busy doing something else.
“I said I felt sorry for the officers that were in the vehicle. They must be going through a terrible time as well.
“I asked the police if they could pass that one, that we don’t have any bad feelings towards them at this time.”
Chris said Margaret’s family is now waiting for a probe by the Police Investigation and Review Commissioner to conclude and provide them with answers over the tragedy.
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He added: “All we are looking for is justice.
“The officers didn’t apologise and I wouldn’t expect them to apologise until such time they do their inquiry. But there’s nothing to apologise at this stage.
“We have to leave the rest until the inquiry. Then we see what comes out. It’s early days yet, but to me the police are showing concern. “
Chris, Margaret and dog Jack — who was best man at their wedding two years ago — went out to buy cigarettes at 8.20pm when tragedy struck.
Chris told how he heard a “thud” as he waited near the shop with their Rottweiler.
TRAGEDY STRUCK
Care home worker and mum-of-three Margaret was taken to University Hospital Wishaw, where Chris was told his wife had been killed “outright.”
Cops said the Transit was on “routine duties and did not have blue lights or sirens activated” when the incident happened.
The matter has been referred to the Police Investigations and Review Commissioner.
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A spokeswoman for Police Scotland said: “Two senior officers, a Superintendent and the local area commander, visited Mrs McCarron’s family recently to offer their condolences on behalf of Lanarkshire Division.
“With regard to the investigation, PIRC enquiries are continuing.”
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