Michael Rawlinson KC of 12 King’s Bench Walk instructed by Jordan Bell of Slater and Gordon Lawyers represented Mr McQueen’s family.
Mr McQueen, who was diagnosed with vascular dementia, died in 2023 aged 70. He won 30 international caps for Scotland between 1974 and 1981 and also played for Leeds United.
An inquest into his death held in Northallerton, North Yorkshire, concluded with a narrative verdict today, with senior coroner Jonathan Heath telling the court:
“I have found that Mr McQueen suffered repetitive head impacts during his career. I am satisfied that on the balance of probability that repeatedly heading footballs contributed to his developing chronic traumatic encephalopathy (CTE).
The combination of CTE and vascular dementia led to pneumonia. I find the cause of death pneumonia, vascular dementia and CTE.”
Professor Willie Stewart – a consultant neuropathologist at the Queen Elizabeth University Hospital, Glasgow – agreed with Michael Rawlinson KC at the inquest when he asked whether the CTE “more than minimally, negligibly or trivially” contributed to the death and that “heading the ball” contributed to the CTE.
Professor Stewart said the only evidence available was Mr McQueen’s “high exposure” to heading a football.
The inquest has been extensively reported in the media. View Sky News coverage here.
