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MacAskill defends prisoner action MacAskill defends prisoner action
(31 minutes later)
Scotland's justice secretary has said he will not resign over claims Holyrood was kept in the dark over the latest inmate to abscond from an open prison.Scotland's justice secretary has said he will not resign over claims Holyrood was kept in the dark over the latest inmate to abscond from an open prison.
Convicted murderer John Brown, 57, failed to return to Castle Huntly, near Dundee, on Wednesday from home leave.Convicted murderer John Brown, 57, failed to return to Castle Huntly, near Dundee, on Wednesday from home leave.
Kenny MacAskill said it was up to the police to decide whether or not to release information.Kenny MacAskill said it was up to the police to decide whether or not to release information.
He said it would have been "fundamentally wrong" for him to interfere in a police operation.He said it would have been "fundamentally wrong" for him to interfere in a police operation.
Killer Brown, who was sentenced to life in 1976, failed to return to Castle Huntly on Wednesday after being allowed out on home leave.Killer Brown, who was sentenced to life in 1976, failed to return to Castle Huntly on Wednesday after being allowed out on home leave.
Open prison
The justice minister said he was advised by the prison service at 1700 BST on Wednesday that Brown had absconded.The justice minister said he was advised by the prison service at 1700 BST on Wednesday that Brown had absconded.
The police released information about 24 hours after the minister had been informed.The police released information about 24 hours after the minister had been informed.
In the meantime, Alex Salmond had been asked during first minister's questions about inmates absconding from open prisons.In the meantime, Alex Salmond had been asked during first minister's questions about inmates absconding from open prisons.
He did not mention the Brown case.He did not mention the Brown case.
Mr Salmond was quizzed about Brian Martin, a serious offender who had absconded from Castle Huntly last week.Mr Salmond was quizzed about Brian Martin, a serious offender who had absconded from Castle Huntly last week.
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.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.
Labour's Scottish leader, Iain Gray, said it had been "inexcusable" for the first minister not to mention on Thursday that Brown had absconded.Labour's Scottish leader, Iain Gray, said it had been "inexcusable" for the first minister not to mention on Thursday that Brown had absconded.
And he added: "Mr MacAskill's failure to deal with this debacle means he must go."And he added: "Mr MacAskill's failure to deal with this debacle means he must go."
John Brown was sentenced to life in prison in 1976
Mr MacAskill told BBC Radio Scotland that he was not able to inform parliament about Brown going on the run because the police had not released the information.Mr MacAskill told BBC Radio Scotland that he was not able to inform parliament about Brown going on the run because the police had not released the information.
John Brown was sentenced to life in prison in 1976
He said: "Clearly any absconsion is a matter of concern, that is why we leave it to our police service to get on with the job.He said: "Clearly any absconsion is a matter of concern, that is why we leave it to our police service to get on with the job.
"It is not the job of the justice minister or any minister to go to the parliament on any occasion when there is a prisoner absconding from the Scottish open estate."It is not the job of the justice minister or any minister to go to the parliament on any occasion when there is a prisoner absconding from the Scottish open estate.
"There are instances when the police decide not to put a press release out that the prisoner has absconded because it could be counter-productive to their operational matter to apprehend him.""There are instances when the police decide not to put a press release out that the prisoner has absconded because it could be counter-productive to their operational matter to apprehend him."
He added: "I do not direct the police on operational matters, that would be fundamentally wrong."He added: "I do not direct the police on operational matters, that would be fundamentally wrong."
Mr MacAskill said the number of prisoners absconding was at a record low.Mr MacAskill said the number of prisoners absconding was at 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.
Police are continuing the hunt for Brown, who was transferred to Castle Huntly from Shotts jail in February - 33 years to the day after he was convicted.Police are continuing the hunt for Brown, who was transferred to Castle Huntly from Shotts jail in February - 33 years to the day after he was convicted.