Fatal Accident Inquiry for gamekeeper’s death scheduled for May

An official Fatal Accident Inquiry concerning the demise of a gamekeeper, resulting from an all-terrain vehicle collision in Aberdeenshire, is scheduled for May of the upcoming year. Matthew Burden, aged 36, passed away following this event, which occurred on the road connecting Tarland and Tillypronie in January 2022. The Crown Office and Procurator Fiscal Service (COPFS) indicated its anticipation that the investigation would examine the seatbelt’s usage within the Can-AM Traxter, alongside a “fault and knowledge of the fault with the driver’s door”. The proceedings are slated to commence on the week starting May 19th at Aberdeen Sheriff Court and are projected to span approximately four days. Furthermore, COPFS stated its expectation that the inquiry would delve into health and safety recommendations pertinent to all-terrain vehicles, as well as the protocols and methods for upkeep and defect notification. Mr. Burden, a resident of the Tarland vicinity, was employed as a gamekeeper by East Tillypronie Sporting Ltd. His relatives conveyed their “devastation and sorrow” following his passing.