Fai

Former justice secretary Kenny MacAskill has called for a prisoner release programme to be established by the Scottish government in light of the pandemic. Under the Coronavirus (Scotland) Act, only those convicted of sexual or terror offences or who pose a threat to an identified person will be req

A sheriff has expressed anger over the “deplorable” seven year wait for a fatal accident inquiry into a North Sea helicopter disaster. Four offshore workers were killed when a Super Puma helicopter crashed on its approach to Sumburgh airport in Shetland in August 2013.

The Lord Advocate, James Wolffe QC, writes on his desire to improve efficiencies in the Fatal Accident Inquiry system. An unexpected death can have a devastating impact on the bereaved, who have to confront not only the grief which follows the loss of a loved one but also questions about why the dea

Scottish Liberal Democrat justice spokesperson Liam McArthur MSP has written to the Lord Advocate, James Wolffe QC  about the findings of the fatal accident inquiry (FAI) describing the brutal death of Allan Marshall, an inmate of HMP Edinburgh in 2015. Mr McArthur’s letter highlights con

The fatal accident inquiry system is plagued by "unexplained delays" that “have the potential to devalue the purpose" of the system, according to a new report. The HM Chief Inspector of Prosecution’s review of the FAI regime found that three years on from the last thematic report, there

Fatal accident inquiry delays are causing severe distress to families who have lost loved ones, one sheriff has said. Sheriff Christine McCrossan spoke out after an inquiry found that a suicidal prisoner could have been saved if staff had followed proper procedures when he was admitted to prison, Th

Since the announcement last week that a fatal accident inquiry is to be held into the Super Puma helicopter crash off Shetland in August 2013, there has been a vociferous response criticising the delay of almost six years, writes Lisa Gregory. While perhaps in the minority, there will be some who wi

A Dundee boxer died in a fight that "should never have taken place", according to a fatal accident inquiry (FAI). Mike Towell died at the age of 25 in September 2016 after losing a match to Welsh figher Dale Evans, the BBC reports.

A review of legal aid funding for families involved in fatal accident inquiries has been announced. Community Safety Minister Ash Denham told MSPs that a full consultation would be undertaken before this year's summer recess with a view to introducing a new legal aid bill.

Families are currently waiting up to eight years for fatal accident inquiries (FAI) to be conducted into the death of a loved one, figures obtained by the Scottish Liberal Democrats have revealed. A freedom of information request submitted by the party to the Crown Office and Procurator Fiscal Servi