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Judge to head fingerprint inquiry | Judge to head fingerprint inquiry |
(about 2 hours later) | |
A senior Northern Ireland judge has been appointed to head an inquiry into the Shirley McKie fingerprint scandal. | A senior Northern Ireland judge has been appointed to head an inquiry into the Shirley McKie fingerprint scandal. |
The former police officer was wrongly accused of leaving her fingerprint at an Ayrshire murder scene in 1997. She later accepted £750,000 compensation. | The former police officer was wrongly accused of leaving her fingerprint at an Ayrshire murder scene in 1997. She later accepted £750,000 compensation. |
A parliamentary inquiry into her case last year found "fundamental weaknesses" in the fingerprint service. | A parliamentary inquiry into her case last year found "fundamental weaknesses" in the fingerprint service. |
In this latest inquiry, Lord Justice Campbell will make recommendations on how to avoid future mistakes. | In this latest inquiry, Lord Justice Campbell will make recommendations on how to avoid future mistakes. |
Ms Mckie, from Troon, Ayrshire, had been accused of leaving her print at the Kilmarnock home of murder victim Marion Ross. | Ms Mckie, from Troon, Ayrshire, had been accused of leaving her print at the Kilmarnock home of murder victim Marion Ross. |
Election manifesto | |
She challenged the findings of fingerprint experts working for the Scottish Criminal Record Office and was later cleared of perjury. | She challenged the findings of fingerprint experts working for the Scottish Criminal Record Office and was later cleared of perjury. |
She received a £750,000 out-of-court settlement from the then Scottish Executive and a parliamentary inquiry was launched to see what lessons could be learned. | She received a £750,000 out-of-court settlement from the then Scottish Executive and a parliamentary inquiry was launched to see what lessons could be learned. |
The Justice 1 Committee highlighted a series of failures in the management of the Scottish Fingerprint Service. | The Justice 1 Committee highlighted a series of failures in the management of the Scottish Fingerprint Service. |
Ms McKie and her father had long campaigned for a public inquiry into the case, and the SNP committed to an inquiry in its election manifesto. | |
LORD JUSTICE CAMPBELL 1960 - Called to the Bar of Northern Ireland1988-98 - Judge of the High Court1999 - Called to the Privy Council2000 - Head of Surjit Singh Chhokar inquiry2002 - Gave evidence to Holyrood's Justice 2 Committee2008 - Head of Shirley McKie inquiry | |
Announcing the appointment of Lord Justice Campbell, Justice Secretary Kenny MacAskill said the inquiry marked a significant step forward. | Announcing the appointment of Lord Justice Campbell, Justice Secretary Kenny MacAskill said the inquiry marked a significant step forward. |
He said: "For over a decade, the Shirley Mckie case has cast a cloud of suspicion and uncertainty not just over individuals involved but over the criminal justice system. | He said: "For over a decade, the Shirley Mckie case has cast a cloud of suspicion and uncertainty not just over individuals involved but over the criminal justice system. |
"Previous reviews have shed some light on matters, but they have not fully explained the events. They have not entirely dispersed that cloud." | "Previous reviews have shed some light on matters, but they have not fully explained the events. They have not entirely dispersed that cloud." |
The inquiry is expected to start in September, although no official date has been set. | |
The Scottish Government said Lord Campbell will remain focused on his duties in Northern Ireland until August. | |
The Scottish Government will hand over any material it held that might be useful to the inquiry, and in an "exceptional" move the Lord Advocate, Elish Angiolini, would do likewise. | |
And if requested, ministers and prosecution and government officials would appear in person. | |
'Difficult issues' | |
The inquiry will not be Lord Justice Campbell's first encounter with the Scottish Justice system. | |
In 2000 he was appointed by the Lord Advocate to hold an inquiry into the decision-making process in the prosecution of three men who had been accused of the murder of Surjit Singh Chhoker, and he gave evidence to Holyrood's Justice 2 Committee in 2002. | |
On his appointment he said: "By their very nature, public inquiries tend to deal with issues that are difficult and sensitive. | |
"I intend that this inquiry will be both rigorous and fair in dealing with the issues and individuals." | "I intend that this inquiry will be both rigorous and fair in dealing with the issues and individuals." |