Parents of murdered mum demand answers after killer was bailed to her home

21 January 2024 , 10:44

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Claire Inglis was murdered by her partner

The heartbroken parents of a woman murdered by her partner have asked why he was allowed to serve bail at her home.

Claire Inglis' heartbroken mum and dad are calling for an investigation following the horrifying incident, in which Christopher McGowan murdered the 28-year-old at her home where she lived with her little boy. They've sent a heartfelt letter to the top boss asking for a public inquiry, the Daily Record reported.

Her mum and dad, Ian, 60, and Fiona, 62, from Stirling, said: "He should never have been there. We honestly believe if he hadn't been granted bail, Claire would still be here. If that decision had been different, we could still call our daughter up and hear her voice.

"Most importantly, her son would still have his mother to hold him, tell him she loves him and she would be here to tuck him into bed at night. We need to know why she was put in that position, we want to know who made that decision to grant him bail and why?

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Fiona and Ian Inglis have called for a public inquiry (PA)

"Please, First Minister, instruct the Scottish Ministers to hold a public inquiry into Claire's death so we can finally get the answers we seek. Make sure this doesn't happen again."

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After being convicted of Claire's cruel murder, McGowan will be locked up for at least 23 years. The 28-year-old killer burned his partner with a lighter during an assault before torturing her after claiming she had “fallen down the stairs”.

A court heard how McGowan - a convicted domestic abuser - left his victim suffering more than 76 injuries during the attack which left her with bleeding inside her skull and extensive injuries to her neck. Jurors took less than two hours to find his guilty of the mother's murder.

The court heard how the victim, described as a "beautiful, amazing young mum", had announced on Facebook in Autumn 2021 that she was "in a relationship" with McGowan, a painter and decorator with previous convictions for violence. He had been released from prison, where he had been remanded on charges including dangerous driving following a high-speed police pursuit, a few weeks before the fatal attack.

Chief Executive of Women's Aid, Dr Marsha Scott, said she echoed "the call for answers voiced by Claire Inglis' parents in their call for justice." She said: "We assume Scottish Government justice officials asked these questions when Claire was murdered, and we urge justice officials to respond as a matter of priority with the answers to Claire's parents' questions and, even more important, how systems and processes around bail will change to protect those affected by domestic abuse.

"We struggle to understand why the Government was adamant about loosening the requirements for bail in the recently passed Bail and Release from Custody Bill, given the abundant evidence that existing protections aren't sufficient."

Russell Findlay, who speaks for the Scottish Conservatives on justice matters, said Claire's mum and dad deserved answers, but had had "the door slammed in their faces. Three months ago when I asked the First Minister to instruct an independent inquiry on their behalf, he wrongly stated that this was a judicial matter which he could not interfere with. The truth is he can and should instruct a review. His government's justice agencies have the information Ian and Fiona are seeking at their fingertips," the spokesperson said.

In response to Findlay's questions in November, Yousaf said he would raise the matter with Scotland's highest law officials. A Scottish Government spokesperson said: "Our sympathies continue to be with Mr and Mrs Inglis and Claire's wider family and friends for the tragic loss of Claire's life."

"The First Minister conveyed the concerns raised by the parents of Claire Inglis, about decisions made in relation to bail in this case to the Lord President and the Lord Advocate and responses have been received which have been passed on so they can be provided to Claire's parents."

"Decisions on whether to grant bail are for the independent courts based on the facts and circumstances of the case before them and when granting bail, the court can decide to ban a person accused of domestic abuse from residing at an address where a woman or children live."

"In addition, the new bail test in the Bail and Release Act will, for the first time, makes clear that the court should specifically consider victim safety, including both physical and psychological harm, when making decisions on bail."