Family’s 3 years of trauma over jail suicide girl
They’re STILL waiting for death probe
THE mother of a student who took her own life in jail has criticised the lack of an official investigation almost three years down the line.
Katie Allan died at Polmont Young Offenders Institution, in Stirlingshire, in June 2018 after staff allegedly failed to act when she seemed vulnerable.
The 21-year-old had suffered from depression and bullying before killing herself. Her mother Linda’s solicitor, Aamer Anwar, has written to Justice Secretary Humza Yousaf highlighting that no fatal accident inquiry (FAI) has been held, blaming ‘persistent delays by the Crown’.
His letter says: ‘The family have not only been failed by the Lord Advocate, but traumatised by his office’s handling of Katie’s case.’
Glasgow University undergraduate Miss Allan died while she was serving a six-month term for a drink-driving offence in August 2017 that led to a boy of 15 being knocked unconscious in the Glasgow suburb of Giffnock.
Mr Anwar said that Miss Allan had not deserved the ‘horrific experiences she endured daily’ in prison, adding: ‘Her family had hoped that her legacy would be that no other young person in Scotland experienced such a catalogue of catastrophic events.’
The Allan family have accused prison bosses of failing to provide adequate care for suicidal inmates despite a spike in deaths.
Mr and Mrs Allan claimed their daughter was bullied by other inmates, routinely strip-searched by guards and made to parade naked. They also said she had a history of self-harm. Mrs Allan, 53, said: ‘I have recently watched the First Minister apologise for the utter failings that have contributed to drug deaths in Scotland.
‘To our shame, our nation is known as the drug death capital of Europe. Yet, as a nation we also have one of the highest imprisonment rates, the highest rates of remand prisoners and the highest number of suicides in custody – there has been silence on this.’
She said suicides often happened among first-time offenders for ‘low level’ crimes, many of them on remand, adding: They certainly “do the time”, as do their families – a lifetime of grief.’
A Crown Office spokesman said the investigation into Miss Allan’s death was ‘ongoing’.
A Scottish Government spokesman said: ‘Our thoughts and deepest sympathies remain with Katie’s family, and while we know that nothing can ease the pain of her loss, we take very seriously the mental health of young people in
‘Ease the pain of her loss’
custody. The Justice Secretary recently wrote to Katie’s family updating them on the steps taken in response to the independent expert review of mental health support for young people in custody, and offering to meet them to discuss this.’
The Scottish Prison Service has said it will await the outcome of the FAI before commenting.
■ For confidential support call the Samaritans on 116123 or go to www.samaritans.org