A bereaved mother has told of how she warned her son not to play in a graveyard just two weeks before he was tragically killed.

Stephanie Griffin told a Fatal Accident inquiry that she had explained to her eight-year-old son Ciaran Williamson that cemeteries were dangerous.

The P3 pupil was killed when a gravestone fell on top of him at Craigton Cemetery, crushing him to death on May 26, 2015.

A post mortem revealed Ciaran had died due to a head and neck injury, with his brain stem being severed in two parts as a result of a cardiac arrest.

He also had chest injuries from a blunt force trauma.

Read more: Ciaran Williamson: Family warn another tragedy "could happen again" due to cemetery conditions

The inquiry started yesterday at Glasgow Sheriff court, and aims to find out if there were any reasonable precautions that could have been taken to prevent Ciaran’s death.

Through tears, Stephanie explained her son knew where the boundaries were around their home in Moss Heights and where he was allowed to play.

The 25-year-old mum-of-four said she had warned her son not to play in the cemetery just weeks before he died.

She said: “The older kids had made a den. It was in the graveyard and they were talking about going to see the den.

“I took Ciaran into the house and told him about the dangers; about strangers being there, and I did say he could hurt himself.

“I said it’s a respect thing as well.”

During the inquiry, Stephanie was forced to relive the harrowing moment she saw her son lying dead on the ground at the cemetery.

He had only been out to play for a few minutes when a friend knocked on the door to say the schoolboy was injured.

Partner Thomas McGhee, 26, rushed to the scene to find Ciaran with the headstone lying on top of him before Stephanie arrived shortly afterwards.

Stephanie said; “I turned round and I saw him lying on the floor. I knew as soon as I seen him there was something badly wrong.

“There was blood coming out of his ears, his nose, lying in this puddle all around him.

“I checked for a pulse- his arms, his neck.

“I slapped his face telling him ‘Come on Ciaran, get up.’”

Stephanie told the court she “fell to the ground” before being taken to Yorkhill hospital by police.

Ciaran’s dad Ryan Williamson and stepdad Thomas also gave evidence before the court yesterday.

Read more: Ciaran Williamson: Family warn another tragedy "could happen again" due to cemetery conditions

Thomas discovered “lifeless” Ciaran in the cemetery with “blood coming out of his eyes, mouth and nose.”

He lifted the stone off him before phoning an ambulance.

Ryan, Ciaran’s dad, broke down in tears in the witness box as he told the court he had just started to rebuild his relationship with his son in the 18 months before his death.

He sobbed as he explained they played football and computer games together, and said he was just a “normal boy” and his “best pal”.

Ryan, 26, rushed to the hospital on the day of the incident but when he arrived he could hear Stephanie crying.

He said: “I knew then. I don’t know how but I just knew.

“I went into the room and the nurses explained what happened. We were there til just after 12 that night in the room with him.”

Ryan criticised Glasgow City Council, and told the court: “If they had done their job my son would not be dead.

“It took my son to die before the council sorted (the hole in the wall) out. “

The inquiry before Sheriff Linda Ruxton will continue today.