Scottish Conservative leader Russell Findlay today called for a major overhaul of the justice system as he raised the “cruel” treatment of the family of Claire Inglis, who was murdered in 2021 after serial offender Christopher McGowan was released on bail to her home.
At First Minister’s Questions, Findlay revealed a new report by an independent expert, commissioned by the Crown Office, which found Claire and her young son were “invisible in the system” and her death involved a “major safeguarding lapse”.
However, Claire’s parents, Fiona and Ian, say they are “still being kept in the dark” because they have received only a summary of the findings, not the full report.
They say critical questions have still not been answered and a Fatal Accident Inquiry (FAI) should be launched.
Russell Findlay asked John Swinney to back the release of the full report and the launch of an FAI.
Findlay also said the tragedy of Claire’s murder revealed a “major flaw at the heart of Scotland’s bail system” and the SNP should change the law.
He urged John Swinney to back new Scottish Conservative proposals, set out in a policy paper published on Thursday, to overhaul the bail system as there is currently no obligation to check the addresses where violent offenders are to be released.
Scottish Conservative leader Russell Findlay said: “Claire Inglis was a loving and happy young mum who was tortured and murdered by a man she had just begun a relationship with.
“The serial criminal who killed her had 40 criminal convictions and was a known danger to women and children, yet he was repeatedly bailed to the home Claire shared with her young son.
“Claire’s parents Fiona and Ian have spent four years fighting and indeed pleading for information.
“The way in which the Inglis family are being treated is disrespectful and cruel.
“The new expert report commissioned by the Crown Office is damning.
“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 an FAI, so the Inglis family can finally get the answers they deserve.
“This tragedy has revealed a major flaw at the heart of Scotland’s bail system. There is no obligation to check the addresses where violent offenders are to be released on bail.
“The SNP government must change the law and remove this systemic flaw which cost Claire her life and put the Inglis family through this horrific ordeal.”
Fiona Inglis, the mother of Claire Inglis, said: “These painful revelations confirm our long-held suspicion that criminal justice professionals knew this serial offender was a danger to women and children.
“Yet this information was not acted upon, and the courts repeatedly bailed him to live with Claire and her young son.
“It has taken four years of pleading and fighting for answers to expose these systemic failures in Scotland’s bail system.
“We looked John Swinney in the eyes and took him at his word that our questions would be answered, but we’re still being kept in the dark.
“The Crown Office has not even given us the full report, but only a brief summary which does not answer critical questions about whether Claire’s murder might have been prevented. We believe that it could have been and that she should still be with us today.
“That is why we back the policy to ensure that all relevant information is shared between the police, social services and courts when making bail decisions. Doing so could prevent another family from suffering such a tragedy.
“We cannot believe that the Crown Office are still dithering about whether to grant a Fatal Accident Inquiry. They have no more excuses. They need to do so without any further delay.”
Notes to editors
The Crown Office’s letter to Mr and Mrs Inglis is attached.
Russell Findlay has raised the case of Claire Inglis’ murder three times in the Scottish Parliament. Russell first raised the case on 26 October 2023, with Claire’s parents Fiona and Ian in attendance. The second occasion was on 22 February 2024 and the third instance was on 28 November 2024, with Claire’s parents once again in attendance. (Official report 26 October 2023, link; Official report, 22 February 2024, link; Official report, 28 November 2024, link).
The Scottish Conservatives’ justice paper can be found here: Cracking Down on Crime