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| Version 3 | Version 4 |
|---|---|
| MSPs deliver McKie case verdict | MSPs deliver McKie case verdict |
| (about 3 hours later) | |
| A parliamentary report into the Shirley McKie case has heavily criticised the management of the Scottish Fingerprint Service (SFS). | A parliamentary report into the Shirley McKie case has heavily criticised the management of the Scottish Fingerprint Service (SFS). |
| MSPs were also critical of the justice minister over Ms McKie's compensation deal and cleared fingerprint officers involved of acting maliciously. | MSPs were also critical of the justice minister over Ms McKie's compensation deal and cleared fingerprint officers involved of acting maliciously. |
| The report concluded that significant weaknesses still need to be addressed. | The report concluded that significant weaknesses still need to be addressed. |
| The former detective received a £750,000 out-of-court settlement after being cleared of committing perjury. | The former detective received a £750,000 out-of-court settlement after being cleared of committing perjury. |
| Ms McKie, from Troon, Ayrshire, had been accused of leaving a fingerprint at the Kilmarnock home of murder victim Marion Ross 10 years ago. | Ms McKie, from Troon, Ayrshire, had been accused of leaving a fingerprint at the Kilmarnock home of murder victim Marion Ross 10 years ago. |
| She contested the opinion of experts from the fingerprint service. | She contested the opinion of experts from the fingerprint service. |
| McKie experts 'vindicated' | |
| The 11-month Holyrood inquiry was the longest and most complex mounted by MSPs to date. | The 11-month Holyrood inquiry was the longest and most complex mounted by MSPs to date. |
| The members of the Justice 1 Committee said: "Management must take action to address fundamental weaknesses which have seriously impaired the efficiency and effectiveness of the SFS." | The members of the Justice 1 Committee said: "Management must take action to address fundamental weaknesses which have seriously impaired the efficiency and effectiveness of the SFS." |
| The MSPs highlighted the failure to have one standard approach to identifying fingerprints as "unacceptable". | The MSPs highlighted the failure to have one standard approach to identifying fingerprints as "unacceptable". |
| They also flagged up concerns about quality assurance, the high levels of sickness in the Glasgow fingerprint bureau and frequent changes of personnel higher up the organisation. | They also flagged up concerns about quality assurance, the high levels of sickness in the Glasgow fingerprint bureau and frequent changes of personnel higher up the organisation. |
| The report said the SFS had made significant progress in recent months towards the implementation of the Scottish Executive's Action Plan for Excellence | The report said the SFS 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". | However, it said the service faces considerable challenges if it is to become a "centre of excellence". |
| Many senior figures are implicated in the failure to properly resolve this crisis in Scotland's criminal justice system Kenny MacAskillSNP justice spokesman | Many senior figures are implicated in the failure to properly resolve this crisis in Scotland's criminal justice system Kenny MacAskillSNP justice spokesman |
| Ms McKie's father Iain said the report had not moved things forward and a judicial inquiry was needed. | Ms McKie's father Iain said the report had not moved things forward and a judicial inquiry was needed. |
| He said: "There's so many issues at stake here. Who murdered Marion Ross? Was there any criminality between the police and the forensic experts? | He said: "There's so many issues at stake here. Who murdered Marion Ross? Was there any criminality between the police and the forensic experts? |
| "It's taken a year to do it, it's cost hundreds of thousands of pounds and hasn't taken us any further on." | "It's taken a year to do it, it's cost hundreds of thousands of pounds and hasn't taken us any further on." |
| Members of the SNP, who have supported Ms McKie's case, called for the justice minister to resign, saying the report made her position "untenable". | |
| However, Ms Jamieson said she welcomed the report. | |
| "We will now need to give careful and detailed consideration to the committee's conclusions and recommendations," she said. | "We will now need to give careful and detailed consideration to the committee's conclusions and recommendations," she said. |
| "In doing so, I want to re-state my clear commitment to ensuring that the SFS provides a world class service fit for the criminal justice challenges of the 21st Century." | "In doing so, I want to re-state my clear commitment to ensuring that the SFS provides a world class service fit for the criminal justice challenges of the 21st Century." |
| SNP justice spokesman Kenny MacAskill said the report left some crucial questions unanswered and called for a full public inquiry. | SNP justice spokesman Kenny MacAskill said the report left some crucial questions unanswered and called for a full public inquiry. |
| He said: "Despite the fact that concerns about the operation of Scotland's fingerprint service have been under debate for 10 years, a properly functioning bureau remains at least two years away. | He said: "Despite the fact that concerns about the operation of Scotland's fingerprint service have been under debate for 10 years, a properly functioning bureau remains at least two years away. |
| "Many senior figures, including justice ministers Jim Wallace and Cathy Jamieson are implicated in the failure to properly resolve this crisis in Scotland's criminal justice system." | "Many senior figures, including justice ministers Jim Wallace and Cathy Jamieson are implicated in the failure to properly resolve this crisis in Scotland's criminal justice system." |