‘Police failed in their duties over my son’s death’ says mother
The grieving mother of a man found dead in his home has said police failed in their duties after her son was reported missing but no officers were sent to look for him.
Iain Colligan, 37, was found dead on 10 October, more than a day after he was reported missing.
He suffered severe mental health problems, and aged 21 was diagnosed with schizophrenia and spent a number of years in psychiatric hospitals.
Mr Colligan was subject to twice daily monitoring and weekly treatment by a community psychiatric nurse, but when carers called police to report him missing and express concerns for his welfare a police sergeant did not send any officers to carry out inquiries.
His mother, Patricia Colligan, said: “The police have failed in their duties. I know he called them out because his health was so bad, they would go out and have chats with him.
“He was no trouble to the police, he didn’t harm anybody, he was a bit of a loner.
“They told me that the mistake was that the police didn’t go out to check on him. That tells me that the sergeant wasn’t really bothered.”
A Police Investigations and Review Commissioner (Pirc) report concluded in a report last month that the circumstances surrounding the disappearance failed to meet Police Scotland’s criteria for a missing person investigation.