Prison guard who got ‘too close’ to killer suspended
A PRISON guard has been suspended from her job amid claims she became “too close” to a convict who stabbed a man 80 times.
Married mum- of- two Nicola McFarlane was ordered from the premises of Shotts Prison in Lanarkshire last week.
The 36- year- old’s job at the jail took her into direct contact with a host of high-profile killers.
But it is claimed jail bosses received complaints that former bridal shop model Nicola had become too close to one specific inmate – a murderer called Stephen Price, 28.
She has now been suspended from her role as a prison officer pending an internal investigation.
Sources at the jail, which is home to a host of prisoners serving life sentences including Orkney race
killer Michael Ross, said it was the talk of the jail.
The insider said :“All the prisoners have been speaking about it. It seems she’s got too close to Price. He’s a thug with a horrific history.
“She’s well-liked by the prisoners in here and has a good work record.
“Who knows what has gone on? Jail bosses will be trying to work it out.
“For her even to be in the position of being suspected of having an inappropriate relationship shows poor judgement on her part.
“It’s obviously a big no- no for these sort of relationships to happen inside jail.
“It will be hard for her to go back to work even should she be cleared, especially at Shotts.”
He was just 20 when he was jailed for life in 2008.
He murdered Scott Burgess, stabbing him 80 times in his Paisley home before posing for a picture on his mobile phone with the dead body.
Just months later he was back in the dock and laughing as he was jailed for a further six months for assaulting a man on a bus and carrying a knife in another attack before he was sentenced.
Last night, Nicola could not be contacted at the home she shares with husband Colin, 45, and their two children on the outskirts of Wishaw, Lanarkshire.
Colin also used to work at Shotts as a prison officer but is believed to have left his position earlier this year to drive a taxi.
He said: “It’s all a lot of rubbish. All the stuff going about is nonsense.
“Nicola is still employed by the Scottish Prison Service and has done nothing wrong. She won’t comment on it and won’t answer any of your questions.”
Nicola had previously worked at Kinnies Bridal Classics shop in Motherwell where she also modelled for the firm.
Shotts is one of Scotland’s most high-security prisons and is home to the National Integration Centre, which handles prisoners preparing for long sentences.
Last night, a spokesman for the Scottish Prison Service said it did not comment on individual members of staff.