Inquiry to be held into death of Inverness prisoner in hospital

A Fatal Accident Inquiry will be held into the death of a prisoner from HMP Inverness.

John Calderwood Gallagher, 72, died in hospital on February 2, 2022, while in legal custody.

As he was in the care of the state at the time, an inquiry into the circumstances surrounding his death is mandatory under Scottish law.

A preliminary hearing has been scheduled for April 27 at Inverness Sheriff Court, and the inquiry will be held on May 12.

The purpose of an FAI is to determine the cause of death and the circumstances in which it occurred, as well as to identify any measures that could help prevent similar incidents in the future.

Unlike criminal proceedings, FAIs are inquisitorial in nature and are used to establish facts rather than to apportion blame. 

Lorraine Almond, of the Crown Office and Procurator Fiscal Service, Scotland’s death investigation authority, said: “The Lord Advocate considers that the death of John Calderwood Gallagher occurred whilst he was in legal custody and as such a Fatal Accident Inquiry is mandatory.  

“The lodging of the First Notice enables FAI proceedings to commence under the direction of the Sheriff.” 