Polmont prison deaths inquiry takes five years to arrive

Responding to the news that a joint Fatal Accident Inquiry will take place into the deaths of Katie Allan and William Lindsay at Polmont Young Offenders Institution, Scottish Liberal Democrat justice spokesperson Liam McArthur MSP said:

“The fatal accident inquiry system should be about providing answers and learning lessons for the future but a system that takes almost five years to even start is deeply flawed.

“The families of Katie Allan and William Lindsay are desperate for answers but after so many years it becomes increasingly difficult to marshal evidence and trust memories of the events in question. I hope this process can give them the closure they seek.

"Scottish Liberal Democrats have been calling for far-reaching reform fatal accident inquiries for several years. We want to see FAIs removed from the remit of the Crown Office and handed to a new body charged with ensuring that inquiries begin within a year and results are presented in a timely fashion."