QUESTIONS have been raised over the suitability of the head of Scotland's biggest fire service for the job of national fire chief, as prosecutors yesterday refused to rule out criminal charges over the flawed rescue of a woman from a mineshaft.

Brian Sweeney, Chief Officer of Strathclyde Fire and Rescue, is tipped to be the single fire and rescue service's first leader when it forms in April.

But he has faced calls to resign after a damning report into the conduct of his officers during the tragedy. Steven Torrie, chief inspector of Scotland's fire and rescue authorities, listed a catalogue of errors by his officers in the failed attempt to save lawyer Alison Hume in July 2008.

Mrs Hume, 44, a mother of two, died from a heart attack brought on by hypothermia, after seven hours down the shaft in Galston, North Ayrshire, while Mr Sweeney's officers debated for health and safety reasons whether or not to go in.

Willie Coffey, the SNP MSP for Kilmarnock and Irvine Valley, who called for Mr Sweeney's resignation after the publication of Mr Torrie's report on Thursday, said yesterday: "The creation of a single fire and rescue service in Scotland will be a significant but vital step in delivering a 21st-century service for Scotland, and it will take a strong leader to oversee this.

"Given that an independent inquiry has just been so overwhelmingly critical of the management style and leadership at Strathclyde, it really is difficult to see how anyone could have any confidence in Mr Sweeney being in charge."

Labour justice spokesman Lewis Macdonald said a lack of leadership and a string of bad decisions led to Mrs Hume's death and the justification from those in charge was "at best weak and at worst grossly inadequate".

He said: "Senior officers responsible know who they are, know what they got wrong, and know the honourable course of action they should now take as a result."

He added: "It is vital that the individual that leads the new single fire and rescue service not only understands the importance of prompt and clear decision-making, but also commands the respect of people across Scotland."

Conservative spokeswoman Margaret Mitchell said fire chiefs should be "held to account" for the tragic events before being considered for senior posts in the new fire service.

Liberal Democrat spokeswoman Alison McInnes said Justice Secretary Kenny MacAskill had to ensure the leaders of the new service inspire trust and carry the confidence of the Scottish people.

Meanwhile, Strathclyde Fire and Rescue Service could now be charged under the Corporate Manslaughter and Homicide Act 2007, with individual officers at risk of prosecution.

Mr Torrie's report and an earlier Fatal Accident Inquiry established that frontline officers and a paramedic were prevented from entering the collapsed mine entrance by their superiors, with a decision later taken by the fire service to suspend its operation, with the rescue carried out by a police mountain rescue team

A Crown Office spokesman said Mr Torrie's report will be considered by the procurator-fiscal at Kilmarnock after the Fatal Accident Inquiry into Mrs Hume's death and publication of the sheriff's determination.

Mr Sweeney has described the report as fair and balanced, and repeated an earlier apology to Mrs Hume's family.

He is already facing a probe after the Accounts Commission, asked the Controller of Audit for a report into his retirement arrangements and pension. He got a lump sum of around £500,000 last July after taking early retirement at 50 but got back his £155,000-a-year job a month later.