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Murderer on the run from prison Row over second missing prisoner
(about 1 hour later)
A murderer jailed more than 30 years ago has gone on the run from a controversial open prison in Tayside. The Scottish Government has come under strong attack after it emerged another prisoner is on the run from a controversial open jail in Tayside.
John Brown, who was sentenced to life in 1976, 33 years ago, failed to return to Castle Huntly on Wednesday, after being allowed out on home leave. Convicted murderer John Brown, 57, sentenced to life in 1976, failed to return to Castle Huntly on Wednesday, after being allowed out on home leave.
His disappearance occurred before the justice secretary described the case of another prisoner who went on the run last week as unacceptable. Last week another serious offender, Brian Martin, went on the run before later handing himself in.
Brian Martin later handed himself in. Police are hunting for John Brown. Opposition parties accused the government of complacency.
The issue of criminals absconding from Castle Huntly has caused controversy, following a number of recent high-profile cases. Justice Secretary Kenny MacAskill said absconds "would happen", but each one was taken extremely seriously.
On Wednesday, Justice Secretary Kenny MacAskill described the case of a serious offender who went on the run from the open jail last week as unacceptable. On Wednesday, Mr MacAskill ordered an independent inquiry into how Martin, known as "The Hawk", came to be moved from a closed prison to Castle Huntly, when the guidelines should have stopped it from happening.
This is making a mockery of the open prison estate Robert BrownLib Dem justice spokesmanThis is making a mockery of the open prison estate Robert BrownLib Dem justice spokesman
Brian Martin, known as "The Hawk", who was serving a 10-year sentence for a firearms offence, absconded from Castle Huntly before later handing himself in. Martin, who was serving a 10-year sentence for a firearms offence, was transferred to Castle Huntly three years into his term.
Mr MacAskill said Martin should not have been transferred there from closed prison conditions and has ordered an independent review. Details of the latest absconding case emerged just hours after Alex Slamond was criticised on open prisons, during first minister's questions at Holyrood.
57-year-old Brown was transferred to Castle Huntly in February from Shotts jail, 33 years to the day he was convicted. Scottish Labour leader Iain Gray said Mr MacAskill's future was now "hanging by a thread".
He was described as about 5ft 5in, with short, brown hair and green eyes. "We need answers on what happened in this case," said Mr Gray, adding: "Did Kenny MacAskill authorise this prisoner's move from closed conditions? The Scottish public deserve answers now."
He is known to have family and friends in Glasgow - and anyone who knows where he is has been urged to contact police. Tory justice spokesman Bill Aitken said: "I am especially concerned by the fact this murderer went missing yesterday, meaning either Kenny MacAskill and Alex Salmond knew about it and mislead parliament at first minister's questions, or they were ignorant of the escape, which shows the depth of the crisis and how they have lost control of the system."
Details of the absconding emerged just hours after First Minister Alex Slamond came under attack from opposition parties over the Hawk case. Liberal Democrat justice spokesman Robert Brown added: "A day after the justice secretary and the first minister himself assured Scotland they had a system in place to stop dangerous offenders escaping into our communities, another inmate has walked out of Castle Huntly.
Scottish Labour leader Iain Gray accused the government of complacency, adding that Mr MacAskill's future was now "hanging by a thread".
'Dangerous offenders'
Tory justice spokesman Bill Aitken said: "I am especially concerned by the fact this murderer went missing yesterday, meaning that either Kenny MacAskill and Alex Salmond knew about it and mislead parliament at first minister's questions, or they were ignorant of the escape, which shows the depth of the crisis and how they have lost control of the system."
The Liberal Democrat's justice spokesman Robert Brown added: "A day after the justice secretary and the first minister himself assured Scotland that they had a system in place to stop dangerous offenders escaping into our communities, another inmate has walked out Castle Huntly.
"This is making a mockery of the open prison estate.""This is making a mockery of the open prison estate."
'Record low'
Mr MacAskill said his office was told of the latest case on Wednesday evening, after he made a statement to the Scottish Parliament on the Hawk case, but did not tell MSPs about it for operational reasons.
"We don't interfere as a justice department and I don't interfere as a justice secretary," he said.
"I have perfect faith in the operational matters of our police. We have recovered Mr Martin and the police are currently investigating matters relating to this individual."
The justice secretary added: "I am concentrating on making Scotland safer and stronger and delivering record numbers of police officers for our communities and indeed reducing absconds - sadly with this one - but still to a record low."
The Scottish Government ordered a tightening of the rules on open prisons in the wake of the Robert Foye case, last year.The Scottish Government ordered a tightening of the rules on open prisons in the wake of the Robert Foye case, last year.
Foye raped a 16-year-old schoolgirl in Cumbernauld after absconding from Castle Huntly while serving a sentence for attempting to murder a police officer. Foye raped a 16-year-old schoolgirl in Cumbernauld after absconding from Castle Huntly, while serving a sentence for attempting to murder a police officer.
Meanwhile, police have been continuing the hunt for John Brown, who was transferred to Castle Huntly in February from Shotts jail - 33 years to the day after he was convicted.
He was described as about 5ft 5in, with short, brown hair and green eyes.
He is known to have family and friends in Glasgow - and anyone who knows where he is has been urged to contact police.