A dad still grieving over the loss of his prisoner son has criticised the three-year wait his family has suffered for answers about his death.
Christopher Glancy has described it as a "joke", as they have sat for three years waiting for answers about son Stewart's death at HMP Addiewell in West Lothian, reports the Daily Record.
The dad-of-three was found dead in his jail cell at the prison in West Lothian on June 2020. Tests concluded that the 38-year-old had suffered complications from a gastric ulcer.
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Stewart's family questioned the medical treatment he had received, and claimed his life could have been saved if this problem had been diagnosed.
Now, they await a Fatal Accident Inquiry (FAI) - which is mandatory when a prisoner dies while in jail custody.
Christopher, who is from Hamilton, said: “It’s a joke. Nobody is taking responsibility. It’s as if my boy wasn’t in any pain and simply died of natural causes when it’s clear he should have been taken to hospital.
"This has happened to Stewart and it could happen again. We need this fatal accident inquiry to take place."
When Stewart died, he was weeks away from being released following a 14-month sentence for housebreaking.
Christopher said: “I was told earlier this year that Stewart’s case is now with the procurator fiscal’s deaths unit but I’m not happy with the length of time it’s taking.
"You would think he would be safe in there but that’s not the case and he must have had a horrible death."
At the time, fellow prisoner James Vance claimed he spoke to Stewart three days before he died, saying: "You could tell he was in pain… But Stewart said the staff thought he was making it up so he could get high on medication."
The Crown Office and Procurator Fiscal Service confirmed that no date for the mandatory FAI has been set.
Labour MSP Monica Lennon has demanded quicker action. She said: “It’s important to establish the facts, including whether Mr Glancy received prompt and appropriate medical attention.
“Families shouldn’t have to wait years for the outcome of a fatal accident inquiry.”
An Addiewell spokesman said: “In advance of any future fatal accident inquiry, we are unable to comment further at this stage."
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