The family of a father murdered by a newly released prisoner are suing the Scottish government amid claims the authorities are refusing to take responsibility for “failures”.
Stuart Quinn, a violent criminal with a history of psychotic episodes, stabbed dad-of-one Alan Geddes 40 times in Aberdeen in 2019 – hours after he was freed from jail.
Quinn is now serving a minimum of 18 years behind bars after admitting murder.
Mr Geddes’ loved ones have told Sky News they have been left with “no option” but to trigger a civil lawsuit against the government, Scottish Prison Service, NHS Grampian and Aberdeen City Council.
An official report examining how prison, council and health officials handled the killer’s unplanned release suggested the absence of a support package and accommodation was “likely to have impacted the outcome”.
It is understood Quinn had been “upset and crying” on his release in 2019 and was due to receive help for personal issues.
The Mental Welfare Commission (MWC) paper – published in 2023 – suggested if aspects of Quinn’s NHS mental health care “were acted on”, in the years leading up to the fatal knife attack, it could have mitigated the risks.
Mr Geddes, 56, who met his homeless killer in the pub, died a Good Samaritan after offering Quinn a sofa to sleep on just hours before the frenzied stabbing unfolded.
His sister Sandra Geddes has been fighting for justice ever since.
Please use Chrome browser for a more accessible video player
From March 2023: ‘My brother didn’t have to die’
The MWC report also discovered the system to prepare inmates for release and reintegration to society had been temporarily suspended three months before Quinn was freed due to “operational pressures” with “inconsistencies and gaps” in how inmates were handled.
Revealing the legal action, Ms Geddes told Sky News: “I am feeling let down. I am feeling like there is something to hide. I am feeling like there is something they are not coming clean with.
“I have no option now. The only way I am going to get these answers is by taking them to court and that is what they have forced me to do.
Mrs Geddes, who lives in the northeast of Scotland, claims there is a lack of accountability.
She continued: “There seems to be a lot of indecisiveness about talking to me or openness about telling me how it really was.
“I just want the answers. If they won’t give them to me then they’ll have to give them to the court.”
Read more:
Police investigating Russell Brand ‘hand file to CPS’
Combative past of new Tory leader
Girl, 10, dies after being bitten by family dog
Stuart Quinn had a history of psychotic episodes
A Scottish Prison Service spokesman said: “Our thoughts remain with the family of Mr Geddes. As this is subject to ongoing proceedings, it would be inappropriate to comment further.”
The Scottish government said it could not provide details on the case.
A spokesman said: “Our thoughts continue to be with Alan Geddes’ family. As this is a live civil case, the Scottish government cannot comment.”
Scottish Conservative MSP Douglas Lumsden, who has been campaigning alongside the Geddes family, welcomed the legal action.
He said: “Alan Geddes and his family have been failed at every step of the way by the SNP, and I completely understand their decision to launch civil developments against the Scottish government.”
Aberdeen City Council refused to comment; however, the local health board, NHS Grampian, issued a statement saying: “We can confirm legal action has been raised against us.
“It is being dealt with by the NHS Scotland Central Legal Office.”