Scotland’s high 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 obtained a life sentence with a minimum of 23 years behind bars in October 2023.
Christopher McGowan. Pic: Police Scotland
Following the homicide, which was described by decide Michael O’Grady as “past sadistic”, it was revealed that McGowan was a serial offender who had been bailed 3 times to Claire’s house within the months main as much as her demise.
An unbiased professional report into the dealing with of the case famous that regardless of prior considerations, “no additional motion was taken by social companies” – with the professional concluding that this amounted to a “main safeguarding lapse”.
The report discovered nobody spoke to Ms Inglis about McGowan’s background or supplied her help, including that the “system as an entire” failed her.
It mentioned Ms Inglis and her son have been “successfully invisible” to authorities.
Claire Inglis’s dad and mom Fiona and Ian Inglis at Holyrood throughout FMQs on Thursday. Pic: PA
The sufferer’s dad and mom Fiona and Ian Inglis 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 Workplace has not even given us the complete report, however solely a short abstract which doesn’t reply crucial questions on whether or not Claire’s homicide may need been prevented.
“We imagine that it may have been and that she ought to nonetheless be with us in the present day.
“That’s the reason we again the coverage to make sure that all related data is shared between the police, social companies and courts when making bail selections.
“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.
John Swinney throughout FMQs. Pic: PA
In response, John Swinney agreed to talk to Lord Advocate Dorothy Bain.
He mentioned: “I’ll ask the Lord Advocate if there could be additional dialogue with Mr and Mrs Inglis on the contents of the report to make sure that the problems about which they continue to be involved could be correctly and totally aired.”
The primary minister, who has met the Inglis household beforehand, acknowledged there “might be points about knowledge dealing with” that trigger “constraints on the discharge of the complete report”.
He added: “If the report could be launched, I’m very blissful for that to be the case.”
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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 evaluate of a “bail blindspot” within the regulation which he claims is “placing ladies and youngsters at risk” as there may be “no obligation to examine the addresses the place violent offenders are to be launched on bail”.
Mr Swinney famous it’s for the Lord Advocate to independently determine whether or not an FAI ought to be held.
And on the difficulty of bail, he highlighted current laws handed on the Scottish parliament which “would offer the kind of safety that Mr Finlay is on the lookout for, and it’s already in statute”.
However the first minister added: “I admire that’s of completely no consolation to Mr and Mrs Inglis within the loss that they’ve suffered.”
After FMQs, Mr Findlay mentioned: “Claire’s dad and mom Fiona and Ian have spent 4 years preventing and certainly pleading for data.
“The way in which during which 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 haven’t been instructed the reply to crucial questions as a result of the Crown have solely given them a short abstract.
“John Swinney ought to again the complete launch of this report and help the institution of an FAI, so the Inglis household can lastly get the solutions they deserve.”
COPFS has been contacted for remark.
