FAI to begin over prison assault death of suspected child abductor in HMP Low Moss

A Fatal Accident Inquiry (FAI) is to be held into the death of a prisoner who was badly beaten while awaiting trial for attempting to abduct a six-year-old boy.

Darren Brownlie, 47, died after being attacked by three inmates in a cell at HMP Low Moss Prison in Bishopbriggs on January 6, 2020.

He had been remanded in custody ahead of a trial for allegedly attempting to abduct a six-year-old boy from a car in Spey Road, Bearsden.

Brownlie was summoned to Craig Derrick’s cell and the fatal attack involving Brian Laing and David Till took just 66 seconds.

He died from internal bleeding caused by a ruptured spleen and also had broken ribs.

Derrick, 31, Laing, 27, and Till, 33, were initially charged with murder, but pled guilty to the reduced charge of culpable homicide.

Laing and Till received sentences of six years and nine months, while Derrick was jailed for six years.

The Crown Office and Procurator Fiscal Service (COPFS) has lodged a First Notice to begin the court process for an FAI into the death on 6 January 2020.

The FAI is mandatory under Scottish law for deaths occurring in custody.

A preliminary hearing is scheduled for November 5, 2025 at Glasgow Sheriff Court.

The purpose of the inquiry is to determine the cause and circumstances of Brownlie’s death and to establish whether any steps could have been taken to prevent similar incidents in future.

The inquiry will examine the adequacy of medical care provided to Mr Brownlie following the assault, the availability and training of nursing staff within the prison, and the procedures surrounding the summoning of emergency medical assistance.

Procurator Fiscal Andy Shanks, who leads on death investigations for COPFS, said: “The Lord Advocate considers that the death of Darren Brownlie 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.”     