FM meets murder victim's parents as they seek answers

The first minister meets parents of murder victim Claire Inglis

The first minister has met the family of a murder victim for the first time as they search for answers over what they say are failings in the justice system.

Claire Inglis was brutally murdered by her boyfriend Christopher McGowan who was bailed to her home in Stirling on 28 November 2021.

The first minster met Ms Inglis's parents as they were being interviewed on camera by the BBC.

Speaking to the BBC after the talks Fiona and Ian Inglis said this was a "huge step up for them" adding they have their "fingers crossed they will get the answers they want."

Claire's mother Fiona Inglis told BBC Scotland News: "The fact that he has even come and spoke to us is a big step up from last year - we never even got a handshake or eye contact or anything.

"For him to come and take time out of his day, that speaks volumes.

"Now that he has met us personally and heard our story so to speak, fingers crossed that we will get the answers we want."

PA Media First Minister John Swinney is mid speech in the Holyrood Chamber. He is bald with glasses and is wearing a navy suit which has a saltire badge on it. He also has on a white shirt and purple tie.PA Media
John Swinney was asked why Claire Inglis' family are still waiting for answers

Fiona and Claire's father Ian want to know why a violent offender was allowed to be bailed to their daughter's home, which she shared with her son.

The couple had been together just eight weeks when Christopher McGowan violently killed Claire.

In February, he was jailed for 23 years for the murder, which was described as being "beyond sadistic" by the judge.

Documents previously seen by the BBC show the case was flagged to social workers in September and they tried to visit the property three days before the killing.

Stirling council said reports on McGowan were not requested by the courts.

Inglis family A selfie of a young woman, Claire Inglis. She has blonde hair and is smiling. Inglis family
Claire Inglis was tortured and murdered by her boyfriend of eight weeks

The issue was raised at First Minister's Questions (FMQs) by the Conservative leader Russell Findlay on the third anniversary of Claire's death.

Findlay said her killer had been released on bail five times despite dozens of convictions.

He said: “Three years on from their daughter’s horrific murder, Claire’s parents are still fighting to find out the full circumstances around her murder.

“They shouldn’t have to beg for basic information. I previously raised their plight directly with the first minister and his predecessor, but they’re still waiting."

The first minister said that he had taken steps to ask Stirling Council to engage with the Inglis family and provide a "satisfactory investigation".

He said: "In the light of the exchanges we’ve had today I will look again at that issue to determine if there’s further pressure that we need to apply."

Speaking before meeting the first minister, Ms Inglis said: "They just decided we are going to bail him and put him in beside our seven-year-old grandson and our daughter, who were vulnerable.

"It’s just wrong and we don’t want any other family to go through this hell."

She added that "victims are kept in the dark" and should be made a priority within the justice system.

"We just want John Swinney to look into this and say 'you know what, there was failings and we don’t want this happening again', we need to prioritise the victims in these cases," she continued.

"We’re not asking for heads on a platter, we just want answers. And here we are, three years down the line on the anniversary of our daughter's murder and we are still fighting for answers."

SNS Footballer David Goodwillie stands with his hands on his hips, while wearing a red long-sleeved football top.SNS
David Goodwillie victim Denise Clair wants to raise a private criminal prosecution

The Scottish Conservative leader also raised the case of Denise Clair during FMQ's.

Ms Clair, who was raped by footballer David Goodwillie, was also watching from the public gallery at Holyrood.

A civil action found the former Scotland striker and then-Dundee United teammate David Robertson had raped Denise Clair in 2011.

But she believes she has been "left in limbo" by the Scottish government's failure to reopen criminal proceedings against Goodwillie.

Her legal team have said government ministers have failed to respond six months after their official request for legal aid to fund a private prosecution in a criminal court.

The Scottish Conservative leader said: “No credible explanation has ever been given as to why the crown office did not prosecute. Frankly the case stinks.

“Denise was forced to take civil action against the two men, and the judge agreed she had been raped.

"She has since asked the government to fund a private criminal prosecution but continues to be left in limbo. Denise has suffered for 13 long years."

In response John Swinney said he is "dissatisfied" with how long the government's decision has taken.

He said: "I think the government has taken too long to consider the request that Ms Clair has made to us and when I saw the news reports at the weekend I asked for there to be greater urgency put into the engagement with her agents on this."

The Scottish government has said it was working "as quickly as possible" to make a decision.