Prison staff in Scotland fear the boss of the crisis-hit institution may not return to his post after he did not report back to work after the Christmas holiday.
Colin McConnell went off on sick leave to deal with personal issues last month, leading to an extraordinary email being issued by the Scottish Prison Service telling staff the period of sickness would roll into annual leave.
Prison officers question whether McConnell might be finished at the SPS, which is dealing with a cluster of operational calamities.
Scottish Justice Secretary Humza Yousaf has been overseeing arrangements at the SPS, which brought the service’s director of strategy Teresa Medhurst into the hotseat last month.
A source said: “We got an email that said Colin McConnell was ill and would be taking holiday time after that but the
way the message was distributed led most people to wonder if he’d be back.”
The SPS has been under fire for crises in staffing, drugs and overcrowding. It has also been accused of seeking to cover up brutality by prison officers.
The family of Allan Marshall, who was dragged to his death in Saughton jail, are to sue the SPS, Police Scotland and the Lord Advocate.
An SPS spokesman said: “Colin McConnell, chief executive of the SPS, continues to be off work. Teresa Medhurst continues to provide interim cover during his absence.”
