THE father of a man who died in prison has said those bereaved by Covid are “fed up of excuses” from political leaders after Nicola Sturgeon gave evidence at the inquiry.
Speaking outside Dorland House in London, where Baroness Heather Hallett is presiding over the UK official Covid-19 inquiry, Alan Inglis told reporters those who had lost loved ones to the virus wanted straight answers from those in charge at the time.
The 63-year-old’s son Calum died inside HMP Addiewell in October 2021 and his family have previously told the media that prison authorities did “nothing” to help him.
Alan, from Linlithgow, West Lothian, said his son had been left “coughing up blood” days before he died at the age of 34.
Alan Inglis, whose son Calum died from Covid, said families bereaved by the virus want answers and are 'fed up of excuses' from those in charge at the time pic.twitter.com/1a3h0NSJyg
— Hamish Morrison (@HMorrison97) June 29, 2023
He said: “He tested positive for Covid on October 14, 2021 and within a very short period of that time, he became overtly breathless and four days before he died, he began coughing up blood.
“My son didn’t need pandemic guidelines, he didn’t need scientific advice, he needed someone to come to his aid to prevent his preventable death.
“Calum died on Nicola’s watch and Calum’s mum, sister and I are just seeking the truth. We’re fed up of excuses, skirting around questions. We’re just looking for accountability and most of all, that this doesn’t ever happen again because I wouldn’t like any other family to go through what we’ve gone through.”
Speaking in 2022, Alan’s mother Jen told the Sunday Mirror: “They did nothing for my son and just left him.”
Calum died at the privately-run prison, owned by outsourcing firm Sodexo, on October 24, 2021.
The company is contracted to run the West Lothian prison by the Scottish Prison Service.
The Sunday Mail reported last March that a Crown Office investigation was ongoing.
Alan's comments came after Sturgeon (above) told the Covid inquiry Scotland was not prepared for the coronavirus pandemic.
Asked if she agreed with other inquiry participants who previously described the plan as “wholly inadequate”, the former first minister replied: “In summary, yes. The plan was for a different type of pandemic than the one we unfortunately were confronted with.
“What there wasn’t, and I think this is the significant gap, is there was no set plan into how we dealt with a pandemic that had the features and characteristics of flu in terms of transmissibility, but also the severity and what we came to understand in terms of asymptomatic transmission of Covid-19.
A spokesperson for HMP Addiewell said: "We understand that this continues to be a very difficult time for Mr Inglis’s family and our thoughts and condolences remain with them. It would be inappropriate to comment further at this stage, but I can confirm that we are continuing to work with all relevant authorities in advance of any future Fatal Accident Inquiry.”
Just under two years on, the investigation into Calum's death is still ongoing, the Crown Office said.
A spokesperson said: "The Procurator Fiscal has received a report in connection with the death of a 34-year-old man in HMP Addiewell on October 24, 2021.
"The investigation into the death is ongoing and the family will continue to be kept updated in relation to any significant developments."
