Call for 'damning' murder report to be released

Scotland's top law officer has been urged to release a "damning" report into the murder of a young mother.

Claire Inglis, 28, was tortured and killed by her boyfriend Christopher McGowan in November 2021, weeks after he had been bailed to her flat.

An expert report into the handling of the case has identified a "major safeguarding lapse" in the case. However, Claire's parents have only seen a summary of the document.

At First Minister's Questions, John Swinney said he would ask Lord Advocate Dorothy Bain again if the full report could be released to the family.

Scottish Conservative leader Russell Findlay said the treatment of Claire's parents Fiona and Ian, who watched from the gallery, had been "cruel and disrespectful".

The family have called for a fatal accident inquiry, but Swinney said that could only be ordered by the lord advocate independently.

Claire's parents have campaigned for answers over what they say were failings in the justice system that led to their daughter's death.

The summary report into Claire's death shows McGowan was bailed to her house three times in the months leading up to her death.

It found that despite prior concerns "no further action was taken by social services".

The expert looking into the case concluded that this "amounted to a major safeguarding lapse".

The report found no-one warned Claire about McGowan's background or offered her support and that "the system as a whole" had failed her.

It concluded that Claire and her child were "invisible" to authorities.

Fiona Inglis said the summary report left the family with unanswered questions, adding that the decision not to release it in full felt like a "cover-up".

"We just want answers," she told BBC Scotland News. "We're not asking for the moon we're just asking for our daughter to have a fatal accident inquiry.

"She was brutally tortured and murdered and we need these answers."

The family backed calls from the Scottish Conservatives for an overhaul the bail system to introduce checks on addresses where violent offenders are to be released.

McGowan was sentenced to a minimum of 23 years for the murder, which was described as being "beyond sadistic" by the judge.

He had 39 previous convictions, including three convictions for assault.

Documents seen by the BBC show the case was flagged to social workers who tried to visit the property three days before the killing, but the council said reports on McGowan were not requested by the courts.

After meeting Swinney last year, Claire's parents said they hoped the talks would lead to answers on why a violent offender was allowed to be bailed to their daughter's home, which she shared with her son.

Findlay described the expert's report as "truly damning".

He said: "The way in which the Inglis family are being treated is disrespectful and cruel.

"Fiona and Ian have not been told the answer to critical questions because the Crown have only given them a brief summary.

"John Swinney should back the full release of this report and support the establishment of a fatal accident inquiry, so the Inglis family can finally get the answers they deserve."

At FMQs, Swinney offered his sympathy to the Inglis family over the "tragedy" of Claire's death.

He agreed that no family should have to suffer what they had.

The first minister said that the case was being explored by the Crown Office and Procurator Fiscal Service (COPFS) and and that the lord advocate had taken "independent decisions" on the case.

Swinney said he would be happy for the full report to be released if there were no issues about data protection.

A COPFS spokesperson said: "We extend our sincere condolences to the family and loved ones of Claire Inglis.

"We understand their continued wish for information and are preparing to discuss the sharing of the detailed report with the family.

"The Crown's examination of this case remains ongoing and decisions regarding the potential instruction of a fatal accident inquiry will follow in due course."

A fatal accident inquiry (FAI) could be held if the COPFS deemed it was in the public interest to examine the circumstances of Claire's death.

A sheriff would hear evidence about the case before publishing findings. This can sometimes include recommendations on how to prevent deaths in similar circumstances.

A Stirling Council spokesperson said they remained committed to "giving Claire's family the answers they seek".

However, the statement said the council had "serious misgivings" over the review report.

"In particular, we were concerned at the lack of multi-agency information available to inform such a review and the legal context all agencies were working within at the time," it said.

"The methodology applied by the author in her review does not apply the current National Learning Review Guidance for either Child Protection or Adult Protection learning reviews.

"Furthermore, the author has limited practice experience in the areas of child and justice social work and, as a result, the focus for the review is too narrow and risks missing wider systemic improvements that could be achieved through a fuller review," it continued.

The council goes on to question how the report could have come to its determinations.

"However, we can assure Claire's family there remains a commitment to commence this multi-agency review when there is a conclusion to the consideration by the COPFS of the need for a Fatal Accident Inquiry," the statement said.