A fatal accident inquiry is set to be conducted into the tragic death of a baby boy who ingested a «party» drug at his residence in Aberdeenshire. Three-month-old Olly-James Sievwright passed away in December 2019 after consuming mephedrone, also known as M-CAT, in combination with the effects of a peritonitis infection.
His mother, Amy Beck, who was involved in drug dealing, was initially sentenced to seven years in prison for exposing her son to M-CAT and MDMA (ecstasy) at their home in Sandhaven. During her trial at the High Court in Aberdeen, it was revealed that the house was contaminated by drugs, and the mephedrone may have hindered her baby’s ability to cope with the consequences of contracting peritonitis. Beck, now residing in Fraserburgh, was also found guilty of being connected to the distribution of the Class B drug over a three-year period, along with additional charges of subjecting children to controlled substances in a manner likely to cause unnecessary suffering or harm to their health. Her sentence was later reduced to four years following a successful appeal.
The Crown Office and Procurator Fiscal Service (COPFS) has initiated the court process for a fatal accident inquiry (FAI) by submitting a first notice, with a preliminary hearing scheduled to take place at Peterhead Sheriff Court on 5 March. The FAI aims to establish the cause of Olly-James’ death, the circumstances surrounding it, and identify any reasonable precautions that could have been taken or can be implemented to reduce the risk of similar deaths in the future. COPFS expects the FAI to examine the adequacy of care provided to Beck and her son by NHS Grampian and Aberdeenshire Council’s social work department.
Unlike criminal proceedings, FAIs are investigative in nature and focus on establishing facts rather than assigning blame. Procurator Fiscal Andy Shanks, responsible for fatalities investigations at COPFS, stated that the Lord Advocate believes Olly-James Sievwright’s death raised serious public concerns, warranting a discretionary FAI. The initiation of the first notice kicks off the FAI proceedings under the supervision of the sheriff. Olly-James’ family will be kept informed of significant developments as the court proceedings progress.
NHS Grampian refrained from commenting due to ongoing legal proceedings but assured full engagement in the process. Aberdeenshire Council has been reached out to for a comment.
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