A child sex attacker died in hospital after becoming seriously ill in his prison cell.
John Harrison was found dazed at Barlinnie and suffering from pins and needles, he told staff everything was spinning. He was taken to Glasgow Royal Infirmary where he made a temporary recovery before his health took a sudden deterioration.
The 73-year-old lost consciousness after taking what was suspected to be an aneurysmal bleed from his basilar artery and he died a year into his eight year sentence for a string of vile offences towards seven boys and four girls over four decades.
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The fatal accident inquiry at Glasgow Sheriff Court was told that Harrison had a history of epilepsy, cerebral aneurysm and a slipped disk.
He was on medication but was unaware of his prescription as his wife took care of him.
On the morning of April 8, Harrison complained to prison nurses about headaches. His cell mate later alerted staff that Harrison was unwell.
Sheriff Paul Reid reported: "He described his head as being in great pain, had pins and needles in his arms and everything was spinning."
He was unable to maintain his balance, had no hand grip on his right side and had slurred speech.
Harrison was taken to hospital later that night where he "appeared to be fine and in good spirits but continued to complain of a sore head."
He was kept in for further tests where it was found that Harrison's existing aneurysm had increased in size.
Harrison was also diagnosed with a weakness or inability to move on one side of the body and an occipital headache.
Sheriff Reid stated: "At 11.30pm his health deteriorated suddenly and an emergency was raised. He suffered a sudden loss of consciousness and impaired respiration.
"He was suspected to have suffered an aneurysmal bleed from his basilar artery.
"This was described as a catastrophic intracerebral event and health care staff concluded that there was no further treatment that could be provided and that he would no survive."
Harrison was pronounced dead shortly after midnight on April 10, 2020.
A post mortem stated the cause of death to be "a subarachnoid haemorrhage due to rupture bacillary artery aneurysm."
Sheriff Reid determined that he was satisfied with the medical care provided to Harrison.
He added: "There was no evidence to suggest that any alternative form of medical treatment, supervision or intervention would have prevented his illness or changed the outcome of it."
The sheriff said that "no accident took place and accordingly no funding requires to be made."
Harrison was jailed in at the High Court in Glasgow in 2019 after being convicted of 10 charges including lewd and libidinous conduct and the rape of a young girl in Greenock.
Judge Andrew Cubie told him he was guilty of “calculated and predatory sexual abuse”.
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