Knife victim’s family renew call for probe into his death
THE family of a Paisley dad-of-three murdered by a convicted knife killer who was ‘unlawfully at large’ have repeated calls for an inquiry into his death.
James Wright stabbed Craig McClelland to death five months after removing his tag and breaching a home curfew.
Wright was jailed for life in June for killing the 31-year-old.
The Scottish government intends to introduce a new law to tighten up the use of tags for convicted prisoner and new rules on home detention curfews were also set out in October following Mr McLelland’s murder. However, a public inquiry has been ruled out.
However Craig’s family have now written to the Lord Advocate to call for a Fatal Accident Inquiry into his death.
Michael McClelland, Craig’s father, said: “As a family we will not have any confidence in the system, until lessons are fully learned.
“We need answers to why this happened to Craig and the public need to feel safe and have trust in those who are supposed to protect us.
“We should not have to plead for an inquiry, it should happen automatically.”
Neil Bibby MSP is proposing amendments to the Management of Offenders Bill to enshrine their right to an inquiry in law.
He said: “It should be mandatory that an independent inquiry is triggered whenever a prisoner causes a death while out on a tag.”
A Scottish Government spokesman said: “Our sympathies are with the McClelland family. The issue of mandatory FAIs was considered by Parliament during the passage of the Inquiries into Fatal Accidents and Sudden Deaths etc. (Scotland) Act 2016.
“The Scottish Government has no plans to amend the legislation in this regard. However, if Mr Bibby brings forward specific proposals and evidence it will be for Parliament to consider these.”