We believe that the circumstances surrounding the death of Michael Lenahan have not been fully or transparently communicated to the public. On 7 November 2024, mainstream media outlets were provided with an official narrative, and on 10 November 2025 they received a further update stating that the matter was closed. These communications were issued by the police to news organisations following our pressure for clarity.
Our concern is that the explanation given — that this was a bus accident — does not align with the evidence available. We intend to ensure that the facts are shared openly with the public. Following this, we will pursue a formal criminal complaint against the police, presenting evidence to demonstrate that this was not an accident but a serious and high‑profile case that requires accountability.
Clean decapitation by wheel arch: No other publicly documented case in the UK—or globally—has confirmed a pedestrian being cleanly decapitated by a bus wheel arch. This mechanism is virtually unheard of in forensic trauma literature.
Two forensic tents at the scene: Suggests spatial separation of body and head, raising questions about the exact moment and location of trauma.
Public mistook the severed head for a Halloween prop: Indicates the head was intact and visible—an extremely rare outcome in high-impact RTAs, especially involving crushing forces.
No global precedent for this mechanism: Searches across Europe, Asia, and North America reveal no similar incidents involving clean decapitation by wheel arch.
Scene management anomalies: Reports of rapid pub closures, crowd confusion, and limited media access suggest tight control over public narrative.
Potential for staging or misclassification: If the head was found separate from the body in a way inconsistent with mechanical trauma, it opens the possibility of tampering or misdirection.
No driver charges or public inquiry: Despite the severity, the driver has not faced formal scrutiny, and no Fatal Accident Inquiry (FAI) has been announced—unusual for a death this catastrophic.
Internal communications escalated to CEO level: FOI findings show the bus company treated this as a reputational and operational crisis, suggesting deeper concerns than publicly acknowledged.
Delayed pedestrianisation of Cowgate: The Council had previously flagged safety concerns for the area, yet traffic remained unrestricted—potentially contributing to risk.
- No other UK cases match the trauma profile: Other UK beheading cases involve criminal acts or mental illness—not mechanical trauma from public transport.
We are also reaching out to the two active police officers and a member of the ambulance service who have approached us, assuring you that all information will be securely stored on multiple encrypted servers.
Nevertheless, because of the absence of transparent information and the withholding of details by the council, we find ourselves with no choice but to identify the coach company involved. We have made efforts to contact the directors of both the bus company and the parent company, but they failed to respond.
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KeY Evidentiary Highlights
Visual and Witness Evidence
- 7 CCTV cameras (360°) within 15–20m captured the full event.
- Haggis bus onboard CCTV also recorded the incident.
- 5 independent witnesses, including 2 serving police officers, confirm the body was already decapitated before bus impact.
- Witnesses observed the body being thrown into the bus’s path by known individuals—names withheld for now.
Forensic and Scene Anomalies
- No significant blood volume at the scene—highly inconsistent with traumatic decapitation.
- Chest cavity remained intact, contradicting expected crush trauma from a bus wheel.
- Clean severance of the neck with no cranial or jaw damage—described by undertakers and coroners as “near-surgical.”
- No global precedent for decapitation by bus wheel arch—this would be a forensic first.
Institutional and Media Response
- No RTA inquiry initiated.
- No driver charged, despite the fatality.
- Edinburgh Council provided only 3 emails, none of which were substantive.
- Police report remains inconclusive, despite overwhelming visual and testimonial evidence.
- Media outlets received a pre-written narrative and failed to question its inconsistencies.
- Scottish Parliament insiders reportedly acknowledge concerns about public misrepresentation.
Strategic Implications
- The lack of blood, absence of crush trauma, and witness accounts of body placement suggest potential staging or misclassification.
- The rapid pub clearances by armed police and media silence point to narrative control.
- If proven, this could constitute misconduct in public office, perverting the course of justice, or even criminal negligence.
Independent gives his opinion to JAOC
Coroner’s Informal Assessment – Key Observations Regarding Mechanism of Fatal Injury
“I’ve worked as a funeral director for 18 years, with seven of those directly involving duties for the coroner — including recovery of deceased individuals from road traffic accidents involving buses and lorries. In every case where someone was struck and run over, the physical result was unmistakably consistent: catastrophic flattening. Blunt force trauma does not produce precision. It crushes everything in its path.
That’s why this case raises serious red flags. The deceased’s chest cavity retained its full profile — there was no evidence of crush injury at all. The neck, however, had a clean severance. No damage to the jaw, no cranial flattening, no distortion of bone structure. Just a near-surgical separation.
I measured a standard bus tyre — approximately 20 to 25 centimetres in width. It’s physically impossible for a tyre of that size, under normal conditions, to cleanly sever a human head without crushing surrounding areas. No known traffic incident involving buses produces decapitation in this manner.
I’ve seen footage. In one clip, a young bystander picks up the severed head, recoils in horror, and drops it. Aside from being detached, the head showed no other injuries. That’s not consistent with any case I’ve ever handled where a pedestrian was struck.
The police urged the public not to circulate imagery — likely because, in this case, the photos are the evidence. They challenge the official narrative.”
JAOC COMMENT
Ordinarily, fatalities involving this level of severity would prompt clear public safety warnings, detailed investigative disclosures, and coordinated responses across agencies. Instead, the opacity surrounding Michael’s case suggests either a systemic failure or deliberate suppression. It raises pressing questions: Was there industrial negligence? Are political interests involved? Is reputational damage being managed behind closed doors?
In response to this institutional hush, I’ve launched a series of targeted Freedom of Information requests aimed at unearthing withheld details — from internal emails and safety assessments to ministerial meetings and agency communications. This isn’t just about one case; it’s about demanding accountability in a system that too often defaults to silence when transparency is most vital. Until there are answers, I won’t stop digging.
Follow my freedom of information requests by clicking the links and following me :
https://www.whatdotheyknow.com/request/inquiry_regarding_cowgate_fatal#incoming-3074014
https://www.whatdotheyknow.com/request/foi_request_council_response_to#outgoing-1891045.
https://www.whatdotheyknow.com/request/foi_request_cowgate_fatal_collis#outgoing-1891044
Please look at all the responses from Edinburgh council which has redacted a lot of information. They have stated that by releasing information of a certain nature would inhibit open dialogue between parties. This is highly unusual as if it was a straight decapitation from a bus wheel they would have shared this information. Please view council response and I'm working on different avenues to show what really did happen.
https://www.whatdotheyknow.com/request/foi_request_council_response_to#incoming-3171691
If any police officer or spokesperson knowingly made false or misleading statements in connection with the Cowgate incident, several legal and procedural avenues are available depending on the nature and impact of the falsehood:
- Misconduct in Public Office: If an officer knowingly lied in an official capacity, they could face criminal charges under common law. This offence carries a maximum sentence of life imprisonment, though typical sentences range from months to several years.
- Perverting the Course of Justice: Deliberate falsehoods that obstruct or mislead an investigation may qualify as this serious offence. It includes fabricating evidence or knowingly making false statements that influence legal outcomes.
- Perjury: If false statements were made under oath (e.g. in court or sworn affidavits), perjury charges may apply. This is a criminal offence punishable by imprisonment.
Civil and Regulatory Remedies
- Police Complaints: You can file a formal complaint with Police Scotland’s Professional Standards Department or escalate to the Police Investigations and Review Commissioner (PIRC). If dishonesty is proven, it may result in disciplinary action, dismissal, or referral for prosecution.
- Judicial Review: If a false statement influenced a public decision (e.g. closure of investigation, refusal to release footage), you may seek judicial review in the Court of Session to challenge the lawfulness of that decision.
- Freedom of Information (FOI): FOI requests can expose inconsistencies between internal communications and public statements. If discrepancies are found, they can support escalation to oversight bodies or legal action.
MEDIA CONTACTED AND NO REPOSNSE
- Edinburgh Evening News
- Scotsman
- Daily Record