Scotland’s first minister has been urged to help in the campaign for an independent review into the murder of a woman killed by her boyfriend while he was out on bail.
Christopher McGowan, 28, tortured and strangled mother-of-one Claire Inglis at her flat in Stirling on 28 November 2021.
During the beating, he burned his 28-year-old victim with a lighter and jammed a wet wipe down her throat.
Ms Inglis sustained 76 injuries in the fatal attack, which left her with bleeding inside her skull and extensive injuries to her neck.
A court heard the pair’s relationship was “new”.
McGowan received a life sentence last October and was ordered to spend at least 23 years behind bars for the murder, which the judge, Michael O’Grady, described as “beyond sadistic”.
At First Minister’s Questions on Thursday, MSP Russell Findlay stated Ms Inglis’ parents, Ian and Fiona, have spent more than two years “desperately trying to get answers”.
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In documents seen by the BBC, social services raised concerns about McGowan living with Ms Inglis and a young child two months before the murder.
However, the case was closed as McGowan had been remanded in custody until 23 November 2021.
On his release, a justice social worker told Stirling Council in an email that “there would be concerns about him living in a household with a child”.
On 25 November, social workers visited Ms Inglis’ flat but there was no answer. Ms Inglis was murdered three days later.
Stirling Council said courts did not request any reports to assess whether bail was suitable during a court appearance after 30 September.
Mr Findlay, Scottish Tory MSP for West Scotland, said: “Ian and Fiona still don’t know why her killer was on five separate bail orders.
“And they’ve now discovered that social workers tried to warn Claire about her violent new partner, but no one answered the door and 72 hours later she was killed.
“A council review failed to answer critical questions. And I’m not putting the first minister on the spot – this isn’t about party politics, this is about violence against women.
“But I would urge him to please look again at Ian and Fiona’s request for a thorough and independent review.”
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In response, Humza Yousaf said he completely understood the “deep sense of grief and anger” felt by Ms Inglis’ parents.
The first minister said: “I will genuinely look at that request again and see what further we can do in terms of any further independent review into this case.”
Mr Yousaf highlighted that he had previously written to the lord president of the Court of Session and Lord Advocate Dorothy Bain KC on the matter and had passed on the responses to Mr Findlay.
The first minister added: “Many of these decisions that were taken at the time would have been for the independent judiciary to determine on.
“In terms of the failure, the questions and potential failures that Ian and Fiona Inglis have articulated in relation to local authority action, I will look at what Russell Findlay has asked me to do.
“I will consider what furthermore we’re able to do, and if there is anything further we can do in relation to an independent review, and I’ll revert back to Russell Findlay directly.”
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Mr Findlay, justice spokesperson for the Scottish Tories, told Sky News after FMQs: “Claire’s parents have shown the most incredible dignity and resilience in their long and arduous quest for answers.
“But no family of any murder victim should have to conduct what amounts to a DIY inquiry.
“The first minister’s response to my request today will give them some cause for hope that the right thing will now happen.”
