There will be no criminal proceedings over the death of a one-year-old girl who died after being struck by a Land Rover outside a Scots church, it has been confirmed.
Ivy Mae Ross was hit by the vehicle at Plymouth Brethren Church in Balmedie, Aberdeenshire, on May 16 last year. The tot was rushed to Aberdeen Royal Infirmary, where she sadly died a short while later.
The 40-year-old driver was uninjured. Ivy’s parents said at the time that her death was a “tragic accident”, which left them devastated over the loss of their “beautiful” child.
The Crown Office and Procurator Fiscal Service (COPFS) confirmed it had been decided there should be no court proceedings into the incident.
A spokesperson said: “The Procurator Fiscal received a report in connection with the death of a 17-month-old in Aberdeen on May 15, 2024. Following a full investigation and careful consideration of the available evidence by the Procurator Fiscal, Crown Counsel concluded that there should be no criminal proceedings in respect of the driver involved in this tragic incident.
“We have explained this decision to the family.”
Ivy Mae’s parents, Holly and Glenn, who are members of the church, thanked emergency services for their efforts.
A statement released at the time by the parents through the Plymouth Brethren Christian Church reads: “We can confirm that our beautiful daughter Ivy Mae passed away following a tragic accident last evening after our regular church gathering in Balmedie, Aberdeenshire. We are absolutely devastated and ask that our privacy is respected at this challenging time.
“We value all the prayers and messages of sympathy and support we have received from the local community. The emergency services tireless work and support is greatly appreciated.”
The Plymouth Brethren is an evangelical Christian church which teaches a very strict interpretation of the Bible. The church has around 50,000 members across Europe, the US and Australia.
Members follow a strict code of practice and the church says it is very family-centred, with families ‘living, working and praying’ together.
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