Scottish military bereaved can stay in Scotland for inquiry INVESTIGATIONS into the deaths of Scottish military personnel killed abroad will be able to be held in Scotland for the first time next week. The inquests have previously had to be heard in England, forcing their bereaved families to travel long distances to take part in the hearings. But a change in the law means that from 24 September they will be able to be held north of the Border. Judge Peter Thornton QC, who takes up his post as the first Chief Coroner of England and Wales tomorrow, will have the power to recommend to the Lord Advocate - Scotland's top law officer - that an investigation be transferred to Scotland and heard as a fatal accident inquiry. The changes made to the Coroners and Justice Act 2009 are expected to reduce the ordeal for families who have lost a loved one facing an inquest. Scottish justice secretary Kenny MacAskill said: "I warmly welcome this development and I know that will be a view shared by the families of Scottish servicemen. While it is right to have proper procedures in place to conduct investigations, asking family members to travel long distances from Scotland to the south of England to attend coroners" inquests can only add to the distress felt." Lord Advocate Frank Mulholland added: "This now makes it possible to hold a Scottish fatal accident inquiry into the death of Scottish-based service personnel who are killed abroad. The Scottish Fatalities Investigation Unit is ready and able to deal with these cases sensitively when required. Before the changes were made, there was no legislative basis for the Lord Advocate to investigate deaths outside Scotland. The situation led to calls for a change in the law so bereaved families would no longer need to travel south for inquests. These calls gathered pace after 14 servicemen died when their Nimrod plane from RAF Kinloss in Moray exploded over Afghanistan in September 2006. The majority of those killed were based in Scotland, but the inquest was held in England.