The manager of a Perth hotel where three people died in a horror blaze has told how she "repeatedly" raised concerns over safety.
Karren Kennedy, 48, was the general manager of the New County Hotel in Perth when an inferno ripped through its structures during the early hours of Monday, January 6. The fatal fire, which broke out in a top-floor bedroom, claimed the lives of two sisters, Donna Janse Van Rensburg, 44, and Sharon McLean, 47, both from Aberdeen, a father, Keith Russell, 38, originally from Edinburgh and a dog.
Following the tragedy, Ms Kennedy, who worked in her role for five years, has told how she continually flagged faults at the hotel before the devastating fire broke out.
Speaking to STV News, she said: "Things deteriorated quite rapidly in October and there was no heating for staff and guests. The solution that was given after costs were put forward, was to purchase electric fan heaters for the rooms.
"There were times where water was coming through lights, there were times where ceilings would fall down and the walls and ceilings needed immediate repair."
The manager, who was at home when flames tore through the 24-bed premises, said that the tragedy will haunt her "for the rest of her life".
She continued: “These young people have families at home and one night of horror has turned into a lifetime of grief for them. Telling the truth and being transparent is really important to allow these families to have some understanding.”
Days after the fire broke out, it emerged that the hotel had been served with three health and safety warnings from the local council just a fortnight before the fatal fire struck.
The Record understands that Perth and Kinross Council served the notices on the owner of the New County Hotel on December 19 - exactly two weeks before the building caught fire.
The investigation into the cause of the blaze continues. Police Scotland and the Scottish Fire and Rescue Service said their enquiries were ongoing.
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