Families of two young prison death victims will meet with John Swinney to discuss their tragic cases and seek justice for their loved ones
Polmont: The families of Katie Allan and William Brown are finally getting a chance to meet with John Swinney, the First Minister. They want to talk about the heartbreaking deaths of their loved ones in prison.
Both young people died in 2018 while at Polmont Young Offenders Institution. A sheriff recently pointed out that the Scottish Prison Service could have done more to prevent these tragedies.
Katie, just 21, was serving time for a drink-driving incident when she was found dead. William, only 16, had a history of suicide attempts and was remanded to Polmont due to a lack of space in a secure unit for children.
The families’ lawyer, Aamer Anwar, has been vocal about the pain they’ve endured. He mentioned that Katie was just days away from being eligible for release but couldn’t handle the stress and bullying she faced in prison.
William’s situation was equally tragic. Despite being a known suicide risk, he was placed in Polmont, and his cries for help went unheard. His death was a devastating blow to his family.
Tomorrow, they’ll meet with Swinney and Justice Secretary Angela Constance at the Scottish Parliament. Afterward, Constance plans to update Parliament on what’s being done to improve conditions in prisons.
Last week, Anwar expressed his frustration, saying these young people were given a “death sentence” and that some involved should face criminal charges. The families are hoping for real change and accountability.
A spokesperson for the Scottish Government said they’re glad the families accepted the invitation to meet. It’s a step toward addressing the issues that led to these tragic losses.
