The widow of a firefighter who perished in the devastating 2023 Jenners department store blaze has declared that three years is an intolerable period to endure without answers regarding her husband's tragic death. Shelley Martin has launched a powerful critique against the protracted delays in the official investigation into the passing of Barry Martin, her beloved spouse.
A Family's Unending Grief
Shelley Martin, joined by her legal representative Aamer Anwar at a Glasgow press conference, expressed the profound and ongoing anguish experienced by her family. Barry Martin, aged 38, succumbed to critical injuries on January 27, 2023, sustained while courageously combating a major inferno at the historic former Jenners building in Edinburgh's city centre earlier that week.
"We feel our loss deeply," Mrs. Martin conveyed to the Press Association. "It is very, very hard to live without Barry in our lives, and it's very hard to adapt to Barry not being in our lives. Three years is far too long to have an unresolved situation with unanswered questions, and I think that compounds the grief further."
Demanding Action from the Lord Advocate
Mrs. Martin is now issuing a direct appeal to Scotland's Lord Advocate, urging intervention to accelerate decisions concerning potential criminal investigations stemming from the fatal incident. She articulated her disbelief at being informed that a decision might not materialise until potentially the autumn of this year, labelling such Crown Office delays as wholly unacceptable.
"Barry's death has had a devastating impact on me and our two boys," she stated. "My children have been forced to grow up much faster than they should have. Their father's horrific death was a burden placed on our twin boys at eight years old."
Allegations of Institutional Failure
During the emotional press briefing, lawyer Aamer Anwar presented a stark assessment of the circumstances, alleging that Firefighter Martin was dispatched into the burning building "unprepared and unequipped." He further contended that Mr. Martin was the least experienced member of the four-person breathing apparatus team engaged in the operation.
Shelley Martin voiced intense frustration with the Scottish Fire and Rescue Service (SFRS), accusing the institution of seeking to "bury and cover this up." She described this as typical, institutionalised behaviour and vowed, "that's why I won't go away." Notably, she highlighted what she perceives as callous language from the service, which she claims no longer refers to Barry by name, instead using the term her "late husband."
A Mother's Plea for Justice
The grieving widow revealed that her two sons, Oliver and Daniel, now aged 11, possess a significant understanding of the tragedy, with one child even sketching a diagram of the Jenners building in an attempt to process events. Mrs. Martin emphasised that the family still awaits comprehensive details, including a graphical recreation of the rescue operation that unfolded as Barry entered the blazing structure.
"Barry was a devoted family man, who was proud of the job he did," she affirmed. "It is unacceptable and abhorrent that we still don't have answers over three years later. I just ask everybody to stand with us as we fight for justice, for him, and for firefighters across Scotland."
Official Responses and Ongoing Investigations
In response to the allegations, Andrew Watt, Deputy Chief Officer of the Scottish Fire and Rescue Service, offered a statement. "Our thoughts remain firmly with Firefighter Martin's family and all of those affected by the tragic incident which took place at the former Jenners Building in 2023," he said.
Mr. Watt emphasised that the Jenners fire remains subject to "an ongoing and active investigation which is being led by Police Scotland and overseen by the Crown Office and Procurator Fiscal Service." He stated it would be inappropriate for SFRS to comment on specific claims while legal processes are live, but confirmed the service has and will continue to co-operate fully with all external investigations.
A spokesman for the Crown Office and Procurator Fiscal Service confirmed they have received two standard prosecution reports from the Health and Safety Executive concerning the death of Barry Martin. The spokesman reiterated that the investigation remains ongoing and pledged to continue sharing significant developments with the Martin family.
As the third anniversary of the tragedy passes, Shelley Martin's campaign for transparency and accountability underscores the profound human cost of procedural delays, leaving a family and a community awaiting closure and justice.
