The Press and Journal (Inverness, Highlands, and Islands)
Anger over death probe
Family accuse police of ‘passing the buck’ over complaints into investigation
The family of a man whose death at Wick Harbour 21 years ago remains unexplained have accused police chiefs of “passing the buck” over their complaints.
The body of electrician Kevin Macleod, 24, was recovered from the water on February 9 1997.
He had suffered serious internal injuries and his family believe he was murdered.
Parents Hugh and June have been seeking “justice” for their son for years.
It was revealed in an internal investigation 10 years after the tragedy that a procurator fiscal had told legacy force Northern Constabulary to investigate the death as a possible murder, but this was not done.
The family have made numerous complaints over the years about the handling of the case, and had sought in particular an explanation from the Scottish Police Authority as to why former Chief Constable Phil Gormley did not order officers to investigate why they failed to act on the fiscal’s instruction.
The SPA has now replied – following a recommendation from the Police Investigations Review Authority – stating Mr Gormley had responded and said he had “no recollection” of the family’s request being brought to his attention.
He told the SPA he had instructed two senior officers to review the case and examine the complaints, adding: “Common sense dictates that would include any issues surrounding instructions from the procurator fiscal.”
Last night, Kevin’s family were “angry and betrayed” .
Mr and Mrs Macleod said: “It appears in his response that Mr Gormley has now passed the buck on to his then-head of major crime.”
They add that no senior officer, including two chief constables, “has or wants to investigate this issue” and they again feel let down by the system.
The couple said: “They have all buried their heads in the sand. It’s crystal clear that those in power will stop at nothing to suppress the truth being known regarding the circumstances surrounding Kevin’s death.
“What kind of society do we live in where your police force, who are supposedly there to protect and to serve, can blatantly ignore an instruction to investigate a death as murder?
“This dereliction of duty by police of failing to act on the fiscal’s instruction to investigate Kevin’s death as murder was gross criminal negligence of the worst kind and clearly was no simple failure but was we believe a conscious and deliberate act.”
A police spokesperson said: “Police Scotland is actively investigating new evidence provided by the family however at this time the death remains unexplained.”