Scotland’s prime regulation officer is being urged to completely launch a “damning” report into the homicide of a younger mom who was tortured and killed by her boyfriend.
Christopher McGowan beat and strangled Claire Inglis, 28, at her flat in Stirling in November 2021.
The mother-of-one suffered 76 accidents within the deadly assault, which included being burned with a lighter and having a moist wipe pushed down her throat.
McGowan acquired a life sentence with a minimal of 23 years behind bars in October 2023.
Picture:
Christopher McGowan. Pic: Police Scotland
An impartial professional report into the dealing with of the case famous that regardless of prior issues, “no further action was taken by social services” – with the professional concluding that this amounted to a “major safeguarding lapse”.
The report discovered nobody spoke to Claire about McGowan’s background or supplied her assist, including that the “system as a whole” failed her.
It mentioned Claire and her son have been “effectively invisible” to authorities.
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Claire Inglis’s mother and father Fiona and Ian Inglis at Holyrood throughout FMQs on Thursday. Pic: PA
Fiona and Ian Inglis, Claire’s mother and father, have solely seen a abstract of the doc and are calling on the Crown Workplace and Procurator Fiscal Service (COPFS) to launch the report in full.
Ms Inglis mentioned: “The Crown Office has not even given us the full report, but only a brief summary which does not answer critical questions about whether Claire’s murder might have been prevented.
“We imagine that it may have been and that she ought to nonetheless be with us at this time.
“That is why we back the policy to ensure that all relevant information is shared between the police, social services and courts when making bail decisions.
“Doing so may stop one other household from struggling such a tragedy.”
The couple watched from the general public gallery at Holyrood on Thursday as Scottish Tory chief Russell Findlay highlighted their plight throughout First Minister’s Questions.
Picture:
John Swinney throughout FMQs. Pic: PA
In response, John Swinney agreed to talk to Lord Advocate Dorothy Bain.
He mentioned: “I will ask the Lord Advocate if there can be further dialogue with Mr and Mrs Inglis on the contents of the report to ensure that the issues about which they remain concerned can be properly and fully aired.”
The primary minister, who has met the Inglis household beforehand, acknowledged there “may well be issues about data handling” that trigger “constraints on the release of the full report”.
He added: “If the report can be released, I am very happy for that to be the case.”
Mr Findlay branded the report “damning” as he backed the discharge of it in full.
The MSP for West Scotland helps the household’s name for a deadly accident inquiry (FAI).
He’s additionally calling for a evaluation of a “bail blindspot” within the regulation which he claims is “putting women and children in danger” as there may be “no obligation to check the addresses where violent offenders are to be released on bail”.
Mr Swinney famous it’s for the Lord Advocate to independently resolve whether or not an FAI must be held.
And on the problem of bail, he highlighted current laws handed on the Scottish parliament which “would provide the type of protection that Mr Finlay is looking for, and it is already in statute”.
However the first minister added: “I appreciate that is of absolutely no comfort to Mr and Mrs Inglis in the loss that they have suffered.”
After FMQs, Mr Findlay mentioned: “Claire Inglis was a loving and happy young mum who was tortured and murdered by a man she had just begun a relationship with.
“The serial prison who killed her had 40 prison convictions and was a recognized hazard to ladies and kids, but he was repeatedly bailed to the house Claire shared together with her younger son.
“Claire’s parents Fiona and Ian have spent four years fighting and indeed pleading for information.
“The best way wherein the Inglis household are being handled is disrespectful and merciless. The brand new professional report commissioned by the Crown Workplace is damning.
“Fiona and Ian have not been told the answer to critical questions because the Crown have only given them a brief summary.
“John Swinney ought to again the total launch of this report and assist the institution of an FAI, so the Inglis household can lastly get the solutions they deserve.”
COPFS has been contacted for remark.
