Godfrey and Sissel Fowler could have been forgiven for thinking there had been a cover-up when an investigation into the death of their son Adrian was concluded.

An inquiry was held after the 29-year-old ecologist suffered fatal head injuries when he fell as he tried to board a moving train at Oxford station in 1995.

But his parents were never allowed to see the inquiry report or its conclusions.

Now, nearly 10 years later, thanks to the new Freedom of Information Act, it is likely that they will at last be given the full details.

At the time of the incident, questions were being asked about the procedures the railway industry followed over the locking of doors and the position of train conductors when they instructed drivers to start.

It may be that the report contains nothing of significance.

But the fact that it has been kept secret for so long gives rise to suspicions that the railway authorities had something to hide.

Its publication will give the Fowlers the chance finally to fill in an important gap in understanding why their son suffered such a tragic death.