Inmate bullied in weeks before death, inquiry told

Katie Allan died at Polmont Young Offenders Institute in 2018

A woman who took her own life in a young offenders institute was being bullied before she died, a Fatal Accident Inquiry (FAI) has heard.

Katie Allan, 21, was found dead in her cell at Polmont Young Offenders Institute on 4 June 2018.

She was convicted in March 2018 after admitting a drink driving offence.

The inquiry is looking into whether the deaths of Ms Allan and 16-year-old William Brown, also known as William Lindsay, could have been prevented.

Mr Brown took his own life in October 2018, four months after Ms Allan.

He had been remanded in custody after being deemed a "potential risk to public safety" three days before his death.

• Inmate 'berated and threatened' before her death

Polmont prison officer Heather Morrison was allocated as a personal officer to Ms Allan and described her as "lovely and open".

Ms Morrison told the inquiry at Falkirk Sheriff Court: "To be honest she was different, and not built for prison.

"A lot of the young women have a background with the secure care system.

"They were already used to the kind of system that's in prison. Katie wasn't.

"She was more mature and more grounded than the other girls."

Ms Morrison also said that she did not know Ms Allan had a history of self-harming when she first met her.

When asked if it would have been useful to know this, Ms Morrison said every young person who arrived at the facility was vulnerable and it would not have changed the way she worked with her.

Ms Morrison was shown a log of intelligence reports which recorded an incident where Ms Allan had been bullied for tobacco in April, however she said she was not aware of this.

And just before she died in June, it was recorded that Ms Allan was receiving abuse and threats from inside the prison.

The logs also stated that two inmates from her hall were moved to other prisons after Ms Allan's death due to risk concerns.

'Part of the culture'

Ms Morrison said she could not remember if any verbal abuse was directed at Ms Allan, and added that it was "just part of the culture" in Polmont.

Ms Morrison told the inquiry how Ms Allan had a positive effect on one of the young women in her hall who was a "difficult individual".

The inquiry also heard how she had denied any thoughts of suicide during a transfer to the young offenders institution, near Falkirk.

She was remanded in Cornton Vale women's prison and sent to Polmont to complete her 16-month sentence.

Ms Allan took her own life three months later.

Self-harm

Alan MacFarlane spoke to Ms Allan when she was transferred.

The inquiry previously heard how she had a history of self-harming but this was not noted on the transfer form.

The question on the form specifically asks "if the individual has previously attempted suicide or self-harm or if they currently have any thoughts of suicide or self-harm."

Mr MacFarlane's notes read: "No concerns noted or voiced. Denies strongly any thoughts of self harm or suicidal intentions."

This was recorded on documents which could be seen by prison officers as they did not have access to health records.

He told the inquiry that he would observe a person's presentation, demeanour, eye contact, tone and speech during these meetings.

The inquiry previously heard how Ms Allan was found to have traces of an antidepressant which was not prescribed to her during a post-mortem examination.

At a family visit the day before she died, her mother had told prison officers Ms Allan was being "berated" by other prisoners and was "terrified".

The inquiry continues.