Jail bosses say our Allan died of natural causes. That’s an insult to his memory
Family slam prison service’s claims about death
The family of a man who died in custody said they were “disgusted” after the Scottish Prison Service claimed his death was down to “natural causes”.
Allan Marshall was on remand at Edinburgh’s HMP Saughton when he was restrained with a towel over his head and dragged face down across a corridor by a number of officers.
The 30- year- old dad died from multiple injuries four days later in the city’s Royal Infirmary after being placed in an induced coma.
A damning verdict at a fatal accident inquiry ruled the death as “entirely preventable” but on their website, the prison service has now listed it as “natural causes – sudden”.
Mr Marshall’s brother Alistair said: “This is just another kick in the teeth from the prison service.
“It’s a disgusting claim and should be changed immediately to something more appropriate.
“From the very beginning, they’ve always been far more concerned with covering their own backs and presenting the idea that there’s ‘nothing to see here’ where Allan’ s death is concerned.
“It’s utter rubbish to suggest that Allan was somehow going to dropp dead that day from natural causes – he was a fit and healthy man. It’s an insult to Allan’s memory not to admit that what happeneded to him in prison when he was restrained was a major factor in his death.”
The SPS took the extra-ordinary step last year of going to court to try to stop the Sunday Mail from publishing CCTV footage of Mr Marshall’ s fin all conscious moments. He was pulled feet first and faced own naked across the floor of Saughton’s Segregation and Reintegration unit on March 24, 2015.
It feels like the prison the service and ent don’t Governm care about the finding out truth
One of the most disturbing pieces of footage shows a towel placed over his face in the corridor.
A member of a 13- strong team of officers is seen forcefully placing his knee on Mr Marshall ’s back seven seconds after he was dragged from the shower block as he screamed for breath.
Justice Secretary Humza Yousef met Mr Marshall’’s family to apologise.
Mr Marshall’s aunt Sharon MacFadyen criticised Yousaf. The 47-year-old, from Rutherglen, Glasgow, said: “It is all very well for the Justice Secretary to say he is sorry for what happened but this shows he doesn’t care. He is happy to allow everything to be brushed under the carpet.
“Is natural causes to get stamped on and have a towel wrapped around your face? I don’t think so. Every time I look at that website it makes me really upset.
“It feels like the prison service and the Government don’t care about finding out the truth.”
Alistair added: “It makes you wonder about all the other deaths behind bars that are listed as having resulted from natural causes. It suggests that the prison authorities would rather cover things up than just be honest with people.”
The Marshall family are planning to sue the SPS, Police Scotland and the Lord Advocate for compensation.
A post-mortem examination found a pre- existing heart condition had contributed to Mr Marshall’s death but an FAI last August said the restraint had also been a factor.
In his judgment, Sheriff Gordon Liddle described the death as “entirely preventable”. Vital evidence was lost or destroyed and the sheriff criticised officers for lying during the FAI.
Mr Marshall was being held after appearing at Hamilton Sheriff Court on a breach of the peace charge and remanded in custody due to unpaid fines.
The Scottish Government said: “Our thoughts remain with the family of Allan Marshall. An independent review into the handling of deaths in prison custody is under way and will report to the Justice Secretary early next year.”
The SPS declined to comment.