The Herald

Scotrail Fined Gbp1m for State of Stations and Trains Operator Penalised for Toilets, Timetables, Seating and Litter

TRAIN operator ScotRail faces almost GBP1m in fines for its failures in passenger service. Problems exposed in a series of special reports by The Herald earlier this year have now been confirmed by Transport Scotland, which yesterday imposed a total of GBP938,959 in penalties on the national rail operator.

Hospital Affair Earns Surgeon Gmc Censure Exclusive

ONE of Scotland's top cardiothoracic surgeons has been given a formal warning by a General Medical Council panel which heard he had an affair with a young doctor who hit him during an argument in the hospital where they worked. Dr Pankaj Mankad was warned not to have any contact with Dr Norzeihan Jan Bappu, who was a colleague at the Royal Infirmary of Edinburgh, while an investigation was launched.

Holiday Chaos for Scots After Blast in Mallorca

HUNDREDS of Scottish holidaymakers were caught up in flights chaos after a bomb attack killed two policemen in the Mallorca resort town of Palma Nova. While some 200 Glasgowbound passengers from the Spanish holiday island were stranded for at least six hours, a similar number of holidaymakers had a stop-start beginning to their summer break.

Search for Boy Missing in Quarry

Macdonald 'More Hopeful Than Ever' for Right-to-Die Bill Msp Hails Law Lords' Support for Purdy Campaign

A CAMPAIGN to allow Scotland to become the first place in Britain to legalise assisted suicide has been given fresh impetus after "right to die" campaigner Debbie Purdy won a landmark House of Lords ruling. Margo MacDonald MSP, who has Parkinson's disease told The Herald she expects her bill to have the right to die enshrined in Scots law before the Scottish Parliament in the autumn after getting the cross- party backing she was seeking.

Palliative Care and Suicide Not Linked Study

LEGALISING assisted suicide does not lead to a reduction in the number of people who need palliative care, according to a new study. Doctors at the End-Of-Life Care Research Group in Belgium, where euthanasia was legalised in 2002, said there was no evidence that patients who do not access palliative care services may be more likely to opt for physicianassisted suicide.

Murder Jury Fails to Reach Verdict

THE jury in the trial of a woman accused of murdering her mother with the help of her boyfriend failed to reach a verdict yesterday. Lisa Brown, 21, and John Wilson, 25, deny battering Anne Brown to death in her home in Ayrshire and dumping her body in a burn.

Boy Dies Swimming in Quarry

Debut for Young Deaf Drama Group

Silverburn 'Safe' As Tycoon's Business Empire Crumbles Five of Paul Green's Firms Fall Into Administration

IT was his donation to the Labour Party in Scotland that led its leader Wendy Alexander to fall from grace. Now it would appear that the empire of tax exile Paul Green, the retail tycoon behind the GBP350m Silverburn shopping centre and other major Clydeside retail parks, is also starting to crumble after it emerged that five companies connected to the businessman have fallen into administration.

Island Mourns Passing of Crofting's Royal Tutor

THE man who masterminded an immersion course in the ways of modern crofting for the Prince of Wales died yesterday on his native island of Berneray. Donald Alex MacKillop, 78, was known to everyone as "Splash", a nickname he claimed came from his love of jumping in puddles as a boy, although slanders have offered different explanations.

Great Staff - Shame About the Litter, Seats, Timetables, Tickets and Toilets Inspections Confirm That Scotrail Is Failing Passengers in Key Areas Inspections Confirm That Scotrail Is Failing Passengers in Key Areas Analysis Analysis Scotland's Track Record

SCOTRAIL'S annual report card shows some serious room for improvement - and if the words "must try harder" lack the necessary bite, the GBP938,000 fine should leave enough of a welt on the palm. While the rail operator exceeded authorities' tough benchmarks in several areas, including customer care and staff performance, many of the problems flagged up by The Herald's special report on Scotland's Track Record have been investigated and confirmed by Transport Scotland.

Criticisms Will Be No Surprise to Passengers Comment

THERE is nothing in this latest report on the quality of Scotland's railways that is in the least bit surprising to me, because I have seen it all for myself. A few weeks ago I travelled around Scotland by train, visiting every major station, speaking to passengers and testing out everything from the ticketing system to the food and drink. I came back pleased and satisfied with some aspects of the service but frustrated and angry at the many ways in which the railways are letting us down.

Inquiry After Golden Eagle Found Poisoned

THE death of a golden eagle has sparked an enquiry after police determined the protected bird had been poisoned. Tayside Police, together with Partnership for Action against Wildlife Crime (PAW) Scotland carried out a number of searches under warrant on the Millden Estate near Brechin yesterday morning as part of an on-going criminal enquiry into the death of the bird of prey.

Girl Escapes Prison After Attack in Street

A TEENAGER escaped a jail sentence yesterday for a horrific street attack on a 15-year-old girl . Justine Finlay was caught on CCTV film repeatedly stamping on the head of her victim, who had posted derogatory comments about her on her internet Bebo page.

Top Surgeon Warned Over Affair Fallout Doctor Misled Probe Into Relationship Doctor Misled Probe Into Relationship Exclusive

HE is an expert in his field and viewed as one of the leading cardiothoracic surgeons in Scotland, while she was a recent graduate in the early stages of her career . But the relationship between Dr Pankaj Mankad and Dr Norzeihan Jan Bappu has led to both facing General Medical Council fitness- to-practise hearings and allegations about their personal lives.

Honeybees Face New Threat From Foulbrood Disease

SCOTLAND'S honeybees are under attack from a new disease, government officials have confirmed. An outbreak of a disease that affects colonies has been found in Perthshire. Four beehives will have to be destroyed after they were confirmed to have been infected with American foulbrood.

Scottish School Pupil with Swine Flu Fighting for Her Life in Greece

A SCOTS school pupil with swine flu is fighting for her life in a Greek hospital after failing to seek treatment early enough, according to doctors treating her. Natasha Newman, 16, who attends at Gordonstoun public school in Elgin, is in a "very serious" condition in an intensive care unit in Athens after falling ill while holidaying on the island of Cephalonia.

Blair Will Give Evidence in Public As Probe Into War Is Launched Chairman Pledges Inquiry Will Be 'Frank and Fair' but Warns Report Will Not Be Ready Until 2011

THE inquiry into the Iraq war will not produce a final report until 2011, well beyond the general election and almost a decade after the first planning for the 2003 invasion began, its chairman Sir John Chilcot said yesterday. Launching the long-awaited inquiry, Sir John confirmed that Tony Blair, the former prime minister who sent British troops into the conflict alongside the US forces, would definitely be expected to give evidence in public and that most witnesses would be questioned in pu...

Taking a Bow