"I don't want any family to go through what we've had to go through"
The Crown office have turned down the request of an Aberdeen woman for a fatal accident inquiry into her brother's murder.
Last updated 9th Aug 2021
The sister of murdered Aberdeen man Alan Geddes has had her request for a fatal accident inquiry denied.
Sandra Geddes wanted answers as to why her brother’s killer, Stewart Quinn, was allowed to leave prison without any accommodation to go to, or anyone to take account of him, in December 2019.
During his trial, the court heard the prisoner had cried on the day of his release, as he didn’t believe he’d received some of the help he needed – and was apparently unaware he was due to be let out.
It was later on the day of his release that Quinn would meet Alan Geddes on a night out in Aberdeen, and be offered a place to stay.
But Quinn, who had a documented history of mental illness, drug abuse and violent crime would stab his host.
When Police arrived Quinn even told them he believed there was a man upstairs with a gun that was after him.
Quinn was given a sentence of 18 years.
But Sandra, who met with former Justice Secretary Humza Yousaf earlier this year, wanted a further investigation in order to stop any other family having to endure the same pain.
She believes there were serious failures for Quinn to be able to leave prison in the way he did, and for him not to receive help for his addictions and mental illness.
She received a letter from the crown office last week to state they wouldn’t be looking to launch an FAI - including their report which detailed their reasoning not to go further with the case.
Sandra told Northsound News:
“It was a very difficult day, I was angry, I was emotional
“I was disappointed because when I met with the Justice Secretary, I believed that truly they were going to investigate this.”
But since the election, when Keith Brown took over the role, Sandra says she is yet to hear from the Minister – despite being told the case would be passed on in the scenario that the role changed hands.
“They’ve taken five months, and you can see in the report, it doesn’t tell me anything” she said.
“I don’t want any family to have to go through what we’ve had to go through.
“On the Government website it says all prisoners get help preparing to leave prison in the last 12 weeks of their sentence.
“They are given advice on finding a place to live, getting a job and looking after their own money – additional support if they have abused substances such as drugs and alcohol.
“that didn’t happen” she said.
Ms Geddes received a letter from the Crown Office and procurator fiscal, stating "Crown Counsel have instructed that there should not be a fatal accident inquiry into Alan's death" it highlighted a report from the Scottish Fatalities Investigation Unit (SFIU).
It's claimed that the issues raised by Ms Geddes are addressed in that report.
Further on in the letter, the Crown highlight that some issues around the release of prisoners does merit review - however states "these processes have improved during the pandemic".
Ms Geddes has asked for the decision to be reviewed.
She said in a letter requesting the review:
"Only a Fatal Accident Inquiry can deliver that outcome, and I urge you to review this case and hold an FAI as the law allows you to do."
"The decision to do nothing to keep the public safe when he reached the end of his prison sentence was a failure on the part of the relevant authorities, all his friends as well as my family deserve to know why this happened, and to have the full facts made public to reduce the chances of such failures happening again.