A prisoner died in jail before he could stand trial for attempted murder
Steven Sweeney passed away just weeks before he was due to appear at the High Court in Glasgow charged with repeatedly stabbing another man at a house in Rutherglen.
The 34-year-old was on remand at HMP Addiewell when he took ill and subsequently died.
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A Fatal Accident Inquiry (FAI) into the circumstances leading up to his death from complications arising from diabetes found that nothing could have reasonably been done by authorities to prevent it.
Sweeney had been scheduled to go on trial in February 2020 charged with stabbing the man in April 2019.
He had initially appeared at Glasgow Sheriff Court just days after the incident and was charged with attempted murder and remanded to Barlinnie prison.
A second hearing a week later was held at the same court and further drug related charges added to those levelled against Sweeney and he was returned to the Glasgow jail to await trial.
He was moved to HMP Addiwell on May 6, 2019 and underwent a number of medical assessments, where it was noted that he suffered from type 1 diabetes and prescribed insulin.
Among other ailments, Sweeney's history of alcohol and substance abuse were also included in the report.
A trial date was finally set, and due to start in February 2020 at Glasgow High Court, however on January 14 prison offers were alerted by a friend of Sweeney's that he was unwell.
The findings of the the FAI held earlier this year at Livingston Sheriff Court explain that medical staff were summoned and an ambulance called, however paramedics pronounced him dead when they arrived on the scene a short time later.
Sweeney had a lengthy criminal history and was in and out of jail multiple times, starting with a spell at Polmont young offenders' institution in 2005.
He also attended hospital on numerous occasions as a result of his poorly managed diabetes.
After hearing from experts and witnesses Sheriff Peter Hammond concluded in his report: "The unfortunate facts are that Mr Sweeney suffered long term and serious poor health due to poorly managed diabetes and drugs issues.
"Adequate healthcare facilities were available to him in prison to address his condition but he had a history of non-engagement with health services in the community.
"On the day of Mr Sweeney’s death, his presentation to prison staff in the morning did not give rise to any concerns for his wellbeing. Although earlier intervention might have altered his survivability, it is clear that healthcare staff were not alerted to his deteriorating condition until many hours later, at about 5pm. By that time it was too late to save him."
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