Victoria and Paul Irvine are approaching their fifth year without their son, Xander. Yet the pain, they say, remains as sharp as ever.
Xander was only three when a car driven by a 91-year-old woman veered onto a pavement in Edinburgh’s Morningside Road in June 2020. The child had been happily window-shopping with his mother when the vehicle struck them, causing injuries he could not survive.
Later, investigators learned the driver, Edith Duncan, was living with undiagnosed dementia. A Fatal Accident Inquiry concluded that Xander’s death might have been prevented had her licence been withdrawn earlier.
His parents describe a home once filled with laughter, songs and constant activity. However, after the accident, silence took over. Paul remembers sitting by the window for weeks, unable to process the loss. Victoria recalls simply trying to hold the family together.
They speak of Xander as a gentle, imaginative child who loved fire engines, outdoor adventures and even tiny creatures. His father remembers watching him cradle a small snail with remarkable care.
The crash happened as Duncan attempted a U-turn and lost control, forcing mother and son into a shopfront. Duncan died the following year, before her case reached trial.
In response, Sheriff Principal Nigel Ross has urged tighter rules for drivers over 80, including routine cognitive assessments.
Xander’s parents agree. They hope that change will come in their son’s name, and that no other family will endure such a devastating loss.
