The family of a man who died while under police restraint at an Edinburgh prison have met with Scotland’s top prosecutor in a bid to get answers over his death.
Allan Marshall was dragged naked down a corridor with a towel covering his face at Saughton jail in 2015.
The 30-year-old passed away following a three-day coma and a fatal accident inquiry (FAI) three years later ruled his death was “entirely preventable”.
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However none of the prison officers involved in the incident were ever charged over his death after being given immunity from prosecution in return for giving evidence to the probe.
The same investigation accused several of the officers involved of failing to tell the whole truth about the circumstances surrounding Mr Marshall’s death.
His older brother Alistair and aunt Sharon MacFadyen met Lord Advocate Dorothy Bain at the Crown Office in Edinburgh on Friday, according to the Sunday Mail.
Sharon, from Rutherglen, Glasgow, said “We are a lot more hopeful of finally getting answers to all the questions we have been asking since Allan’s death.
“The Lord Advocate really listened and said she would get back to us in the next six to eight weeks with her response.
“We have also given her a lot of new information which she was not aware of.
“For the first time, she was hearing the full story. The Lord Advocate also listened to our concerns over the way we were treated after Allan died.”
At the time of his death, Mr Marshall, 30, from Glasgow, ran his own recycling business.
He was on remand and due for release. from the facility, but died after spending three days in a coma at Edinburgh Royal Infirmary.
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Mr Marshall’s family posed 19 questions about the investigation into his death to the Lord Advocate.
The Marshalls’ solicitor Jelina Berlow-Rahman said: “We are pleased someone is finally listening to the families and their concerns.”
In December we reported how Mr Marshall’s family had been refused a public inquiry by Justice Secretary Keith Brown, who claimed all issues of concern were addressed at the 2018 FAI.
Lord Advocate Bain QC said: “I am grateful to have had the opportunity to meet with Allan Marshall’s family.
“As a result of reviewing this case, the Crown has made significant improvements to the way it investigates deaths in custody.”
