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McKie fingerprint report awaited MSPs deliver McKie case verdict
(about 9 hours later)
The parliamentary inquiry arising from the Shirley McKie fingerprint case is to publish its long-awaited report. A parliamentary report into the Shirley McKie case has heavily criticised the management of the Scottish Fingerprint Service.
Ms McKie, a former detective from Troon in Ayrshire, received an out-of-court settlement of £750,000 after being found not guilty of committing perjury. MSPs criticised the justice minister over Ms McKie's compensation deal and cleared fingerprint officers involved of acting maliciously.
She contested the opinion of experts from the Scottish Fingerprint Service. The report concluded that significant weaknesses still need to be addressed.
The report's findings are likely to focus on management shortcomings and question the way senior officials and ministers responded to the crisis. The former detective received a £750,000 out-of-court settlement after being cleared of committing perjury.
The 11-month Holyrood inquiry was the longest and most complex mounted by MSPs. Ms McKie, from Troon, Ayrshire, contested the opinion of experts from the fingerprint service.
However, its conclusions are unlikely to end the bitter row over the print found at a Kilmarnock murder scene in 1997. The 11-month Holyrood inquiry was the longest and most complex mounted by MSPs to date.
Supporters of Ms McKie will continue to insist the mark is not hers, a claim supported by a court and the Scottish Executive. Human resources
The fingerprint officers who identified it as her print continue to stick by that decision, while defending their integrity, with the backing of some MSPs and experts. The report by the Justice 1 Committee said the fingerprint service had made significant progress in recent months towards the implementation of the Scottish Executive's Action Plan for Excellence
However, it said the service faces considerable challenges if it is to become a "centre of excellence".
The report said this plan should be strengthened in the areas of leadership and management, human resources, procedures and quality assurance.
The committee called for robust processes to deal with external challenges to fingerprint identification.
The report added that this would give staff confidence in exercising their professional judgement in difficult cases.