IN AN emotional statement to the House of Commons, the Scottish Secretary, Mr Michael Forsyth, announced yesterday that there would be a public inquiry into the shooting of 16 children and their teacher at Dunblane school in Scotland.
After outlining the known facts about the tragedy to MPs, Mr Forsyth, whose Stirling constituency includes Dunblane, said that Queen Elizabeth and Princess Anne would visit the town on Monday to offer their support and condolences to the people.
"MPs will share my sense of the inadequacy of any attempt we make in this House to offer consolation to the families devastated by this vile crime. The cold blooded slaughter of tiny children is beyond atrocity . . . the whole nation mourns," he said.
Mr Forsyth, who was wearing a black tie, said the public inquiry into the tragedy would be led by Lord Cullen, a senior Scottish judge who also investigated the Piper Alpha oil rig disaster.
Mr Forsyth recalled that he had met the gunman, Thomas Hamilton, in his constituency, saying he had no inkling that the man was "capable of such a terrible act".
Describing his visit to Dunblane school just hours after the tragedy, Mr Forsyth praised the headmaster, teachers and doctors who attended the dying, the injured and attempted to console the bereaved.
"In particular I want to pay the highest possible tribute to Ron Taylor, the headmaster, for his heroic efforts to save the lives of his dying pupils in circumstances too harrowing to be recounted in detail", he said.
Mr Forsyth also offered his condolences to the family of Mrs Gwenne Mayor, the teacher who was shot dead as she attempted to protect her pupils, and described her as a "dedicated, exceptionally gifted teacher".
In reply, the Shadow Scottish Secretary, Mr George Robertson, who lives in Dunblane and whose children attended the primary school, recalled that he too had met Hamilton, arguing with him in his own home but "in truth there could have been no inkling fob guide us to his final act of wantonness".
Appearing close to tears, Mr Robertson said he had initially hoped the tragedy was "just a very bad dream" but realised with "huge sadness and dismay" that Hamilton had murdered 16 children and their teacher.
"It was that very worst of all possible nightmares any parent can think of, and for it to happen to so many of the littlest and the most innocent makes the tragedy one of unspeakable misery.
"I have to say that Dunblane today is worse than yesterday in its mourning and tomorrow will probably be worse still as the enormity of the massacre comes home in the shape of real children gone, real families afflicted and a whole community scarred and tortured", he said.
Welcoming the public inquiry, Mr Robertson agreed that questions needed to be answered but stressed that there should not be a "rush" for an instant judgment.
Earlier, Mr John Major told a silent House that ministers would consider the implications of the tragedy "for any future changes in firearms control" and would offer the necessary support to the community.
The Labour leader, Mr Tony Blair, his voice shaking with emotion, said the whole nation was in a state of shock at the "sheer horror" of the tragedy.
"Not an event of war, nor a catastrophe of nature, nor human error, was this, but a massacre of innocents without cause and without reason. How many parents last night will have clutched their own children to them, looking at them differently and imagining the pain which for others is all too real?" he asked.