Inquiry into death of prisoner who died while in custody at Glasgow prison

A fatal accident inquiry is to be held into the death of a prisoner while in custody at HMP Barlinnie.

Richard Stevenson, 69, died at the Glasgow Royal Infirmary on May 16, 2023, while serving a sentence at the Glasgow prison.

As he was in legal custody and under the care of the state at the time of his death, the Crown Office and Procurator Fiscal Service (COPFS) is required by law to investigate the circumstances and hold a mandatory Fatal Accident Inquiry.

Andy Shanks of the COPFS Scotland’s death investigation authority, said: “The Lord Advocate considers that the death of Richard Stevenson 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.”

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

The purpose of an FAI includes determining the cause of death, the circumstances in which the death occurred and establishing what, if any, reasonable precautions could have been taken and could be implemented in the future to minimise the risk of future deaths in similar circumstances.

A preliminary hearing will be held on November 16 at Glasgow Sheriff Court.