Treatment of murdered woman’s family searching for answers ‘cruel and disrespectful’

A family seeking answers about the circumstances surrounding their daughter's murder have been treated in a “cruel and disrespectful” way, Russell Findlay has said.

Claire Inglis was tortured then murdered by Christopher McGowan in November 2021, despite social services raising concerns about his violent behaviour in the weeks before.

McGowan was on bail to Claire’s home at the time of her murder. Social services had tried to make a visit to the home, which she shared with her son, three days before she was killed.

An expert report on the handling of the case, commissioned by the Crown Office, identified a “major safeguarding lapse”. 

But the Inglis family have only been given a summary of the document and are seeking its full release.

The Scottish Conservative leader raised the issue during FMQs and backed the family's request for the report to be released, as well as the establishment of a fatal accident inquiry into Claire's death.

First Minister John Swinney said the decision about conducting an FAI was for Lord Advocate Dorothy Bain.

But he said he was “happy” for the report to be released and would ask Bain to look into the matter. He added that if this was not possible for data protection reasons, he would ensure the Inglis family was engaged with.

Fiona and Ian Inglis, who were in the public gallery for FMQs, have been campaigning for answers since Claire's death. Fiona said the summary of the report they received “does not answer critical questions about whether Claire’s murder might have been prevented”.

Findlay described the report as “truly damning”. He added: “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.”

He also said these issues demonstrated a “major failure at the heart of Scotland’s bail system”.

His party has today published a fresh paper setting out its justice policy, including backing changes to the bail system to create an obligation for authorities to check the addresses where violent offenders are to be released.

In the chamber, he told the FM to “end this bail blind spot that’s putting women and children in danger”.

Swinney agreed to “give consideration” to the proposal, though added that recent legislation meant bail decisions must take into consideration risk of harm to victims.

He offered his sympathies to the Inglis family and said the initial investigation by Stirling Council was “not good enough”.

McGowan was sentenced to a minimum of 23 years for the murder.

Scottish Labour leader Anas Sarwar also used his FMQs time to raise issues on the justice system, criticising the high number of outstanding arrest warrants and overcrowding in prisons.

Swinney said Scotland was the “safest” it has been since the SNP took office, pointing to a fall in crime.

On arrest warrants, he said this was an operational matter for Police Scotland.