John Swinney meets the parents of murder victim Claire Inglis in search of answers

The First Minister has met the family of a murder victim for the first time as they seek answers to what they say are failings in the justice system.

Claire Inglis was brutally murdered on November 28, 2021 by her boyfriend Christopher McGowan, who was bailed to her home in Stirling.

The first minister met Ms Inglis’ parents as they were interviewed on camera by the BBC.

Speaking to the BBC after the talks, Fiona and Ian Inglis said this was a “huge step forward for them” and added that they were “fingers crossed they get the answers they want.”

Claire’s mother Fiona Inglis told BBC Scotland News: “The fact that he came and spoke to us at all is a big step forward from last year – we didn’t even have a handshake or eye contact or anything like that.”

“The fact that he comes to us and takes his time speaks volumes.”

“Now that he’s gotten to know us in person and heard our story, so to speak, we’re keeping our fingers crossed that we get the answers we want.”

Fiona and Claire’s father Ian wants to know why a violent criminal was allowed to be brought into their daughter’s home, which she shared with her son, on bail.

The couple had only been together eight weeks when Christopher McGowan violently killed Claire.

In February he was sentenced to 23 years in prison for the murder, which the judge described as “beyond sadistic.”

Documents previously seen by the BBC show the case was reported to social workers in September and they attempted to visit the property three days before the murder.

Stirling Council said reports about McGowan had not been requested by the courts.

The issue was raised at First Minister’s Questions (FMQs) by Conservative leader Russell Findlay to mark the third anniversary of Claire’s death.

Findlay said her killer had been released on bail five times despite dozens of convictions.

He said: “Three years after the horrific murder of their daughter, Claire’s parents are still struggling to find out the exact circumstances of her murder.

“You shouldn’t have to beg for basic information. I have previously raised their plight directly with the First Minister and his predecessor but they are still waiting.”

The first minister said he had taken steps to ask Stirling Council to work with the Inglis family and carry out a “satisfactory investigation”.

He said: “Given the discussions we have had today, I will look at this issue again to see if we need to apply further pressure.”

Before meeting the first minister, Ms Inglis said: “They have just decided that we will release him on bail and place him alongside our seven-year-old grandson and daughter who were at risk.”

“It’s just wrong and we don’t want another family to have to go through this hell.”

She added that “victims are left in the dark” and that they should be given priority in the justice system.

“We just want John Swinney to look at this and say, ‘You know what, there were failures and we don’t want anything like that to happen again,’ we need to prioritize the victims in these cases,” she continued.

“We’re not asking for heads on a plate, we just want answers. And here we are, three years later, on the anniversary of our daughter’s murder, and we’re still fighting for answers.”

The Scottish Conservative leader also raised the Denise Clair case during the FMQ meetings.

Ms Clair, who was raped by footballer David Goodwillie, also watched from the stands at Holyrood.

A civil lawsuit found that former Scotland striker and then Dundee United teammate David Robertson raped Denise Clair in 2011.

However, she believes she has been left “in limbo” by the Scottish Government’s failure to reopen criminal proceedings against Goodwillie.

Her legal team said government ministers had not responded six months after she formally applied for legal aid to fund a private prosecution in a criminal court.

The Scottish Conservative leader said: “No credible explanation has ever been given as to why the Crown Office did not prosecute. Frankly, the case stinks.

“Denise was forced to take civil action against the two men and the judge agreed that she had been raped.

“She has since asked the government to fund private prosecution but remains in limbo. Denise suffered for 13 long years.”

In response, John Swinney said he was “dissatisfied” with how long the government’s decision had taken.

He said: “I think the government has taken too long to consider Ms Clair’s request to us and when I saw the news reports over the weekend I called for there to be greater urgency in engaging with their agents on this matter. “.”

The Scottish Government said it was working on a decision “as quickly as possible”.