Teacher's death was murder, says ex-pupil
Your support helps us to tell the story
From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.
At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.
The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.
Your support makes all the difference.Police are to reopen the case of a teacher who fell to his death on the slopes of Ben Nevis while leading a school trip 41 years ago. New evidence suggests that he might have been murdered.
Howard Keeley's death was treated as a tragic accident at the time, but a witness has led officers from the Northern Constabulary to investigate whether some of the children in the party were responsible. A former pupil from Balgowan School in Dundee, where Mr Keeley, 23, worked, recently contacted police with new evidence about the incident.
The man, now aged 51, alleges that he helped to cover up the truth about the death, and that pupils pushed Mr Keeley 1,000ft down the mountain. The former pupil is reported to have given police the names of two pupils who he claimed kicked the teacher as he stood on the mountain's edge. The two pupils have been questioned and have denied the allegations.
A police spokesman said: "As these inquiries are at a very early stage, we will not be commenting further at this time."
Inquiries have been frustrated because mountain rescuers who attended the scene in 1962 have been impossible to track down. Current mountain rescue teams operating on the 4,406ft Ben Nevis, near Fort William in the Scottish Highlands, are understood to have been asked to assist the police. Terry Confield, of Lochaber Mountain Rescue, said his team's records did not go back to the incident.
The Scottish Highlands are notoriously dangerous, with dozens of climbers and walkers caught each year in unpredictable weather. On average, 39 people a year die on the Nevis range from accidents and hypothermia.
Balgowan School, which housed a number of pupils with behavioural problems, was set up in 1855 and closed in 1983.
Join our commenting forum
Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies
Comments