YOI officer felt ‘a wee bit’ responsible for suicide

A prison officer who was working at a young offenders institution before the suicide of a 16-year-old boy has described it as a "terrible tragedy" and said he felt "a wee bit" responsible.

A fatal accident inquiry at Falkirk Sheriff Court is examining the circumstances of the deaths of Katie Allan at Polmont Young Offenders Institution in June 2018, and William Brown, 16, also known as William Lindsay, who took his own life at the facility four months later.

Mr Brown, who had been in care repeatedly, was found dead in his cell on October 7. Ms Allan, a student at Glasgow University, was found dead in her cell on June 4.

Alexander Cormack, who was a prison officer for 30 years, was working at Polmont on October 5, 2018.

At the inquiry yesterday, advocate depute Leanne Cross asked Mr Cormack how he felt about Mr Brown's death when he came on duty on Sunday October 7.

He said: "It was a terrible tragedy."

Ms Cross asked Mr Cormack: "Did you not feel a bit responsible?"

Mr Cormack said: "A wee bit, yes. I probably should have checked him more."

When Ms Cross asked Mr Cormack what he thought he could have done, he replied: "I am not really sure. The boy could have gone back on Talk 2 Me [the Scottish Prison Service Talk 2 Me suicide prevention strategy]."

The inquiry also heard from Dr Mayura Deshpande, a consultant forensic psychiatrist, who was asked to prepare reports to assess the circumstances of the deaths of Ms Allan and Mr Brown.

Dr Deshpande described Mr Brown's actions prior to his incarceration, where he turned up at a police station with a knife, as "at the very least, a cry for help".

The inquiry, before Sheriff Simon Collins, continues.