Inquiry to be held over hay bale deaths of two farmers

The deaths of two farmers who were killed in separate incidents involving falling hay bales are to be the focus of a single fatal accident inquiry, it has been announced.

Self-employed farmer George Stephen, 60, from Mulben, near Keith, in Moray, was struck by a hay bale in November 2020 and later died in hospital.

Another farmer - Garry Thomson, 58, of Rothienorman, Aberdeenshire - died in July 2025 after he was also hit by a falling bale.

The Crown Office said that although they were separate incidents there were enough common features in the circumstances to hold a single Fatal Accident Inquiry.

They said hearing the matters together would allow the effective examination of any shared issues and identify lessons for the future.

A preliminary fatal accident inquiry (FAI) hearing into the deaths of the two self-employed farmers will be held on 25 June at Banff Sheriff Court.

FAIs are used to establish facts and determine any lessons to be learned rather than to apportion any blame.