THE family of tragic Paige Doherty has shared their “disappointment” after a bid to introduce a law in her honour failed.

Pamela Doherty, the 15-year-old’s devastated mum, has told of her sadness at the Scottish Parliament’s decision earlier this week not to progress Post-Mortems Examinations (Defence Time Limit) Bill put forward by Gil Paterson MSP.

As previously reported, the bill called for a 14-day time-limit for defence counsel to carry out a second post-mortem in a bid to return the bodies of victims to their families sooner.

She said: “I’m really disappointed that it didn’t get the backing it deserved.

“The arguments are ridiculous and the fact that our original plan was to lower it to one post-mortem but, we were told it couldn’t happen because defence has the right to one – to then turn round and say there’s not been any defence post-mortems since July 2019 tells me it is not needed.”

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She added: “I want to thank Gil for all his hard work ... Gil done everything he could for us and he’s done Paige’s memory an absolute honour and will always have a huge place in her memory and the fight we will continue with in her name.”

The bill stated defence counsel would have 14 days from receiving the full findings of the Crown Office and Procurator Fiscal Service (COPFS) post-mortem to determine whether a second examination was necessary.

In 2018, the COPFS introduced a protocol which urged prosecutors and defence agents to consult on whether exams were needed in a bid to curb delays.

During Tuesday’s debate, Cabinet Secretary for Justice Humza Yousaf confirmed only two defence post mortems had been requested since July 2019 – despite around 100 homicides – thus “proving” the protocol was working and a bill was not needed.

It was determined not to progress the bill to the second stage with a vote of 90 to 26 MSPs.

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Mr Paterson said: “To say I am very disappointed that my Bill is not progressing to the next stage would be an understatement, and I am not sure at all of the reaction to this for the families who have been devastated and unfortunately tormented by our post-mortem system.

“I have got a feeling that how it has affected me pales into insignificance compared to these families who have been determined and driven to make changes so that it doesn’t happen to others in the ­future, and I am not disappointed for myself but for them.”