Stuart Thompson was working for SI Dismantling Ltd to demolish a disused abattoir in Great Western Road when rubble stacked up against an interior wall collapsed on top of him.

This week at Inverness Sheriff Court, Joseph Young admitted a breach of Health and Safety legislation whereby he failed to give his employees proper instructions to demolish the building between October 14, 2013, and January 27, 2014.

The charge continued that Mr Young failed to monitor the work, provide site inductions, carry out regular inspections and failed to prevent waste materials being loaded against an interior wall. He has been on site until December 20 but failed to return afterwards.

Mr Thompson and a colleague went back on January 24, 2014, to cut up metal beams which had been taken down before the Christmas break. Three days later he was dead.

Mr Young also failed to implement a safe method of dismantling steel structures and walls whereby the interior wall collapsed and Mr Thompson was fatally injured as he was cutting steel beams.

Sentence was deferred until January 5 next year for a background report, a restriction of liberty order assessment and Mr Young’s personal appearance, although the court heard that this could yet be delayed due to uncertainty surrounding coronavirus restrictions.

The maximum penalty is up to two years imprisonment and/or an unlimited fine.