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Calum Steele: Endless inquiries won't prevent another Katie Allan or William Brown

1 6
23.01.2025

It would be nice to believe the names of Katie Allan and William Brown will be indelibly etched into our collective consciousness forever more.

The unspeakable tragedies that surround their respective deaths at the very least deserve them to be. The sad and cruel fact however is their names are already all but forgotten – although they will undoubtedly make the occasional appearance in the months and years ahead as their memories are rekindled the next time a tragedy or failure in our public services makes the news.

It’s an inescapable truth that for all the statements, pronouncements, head tilts, and hushed and sombre tones when talking about both Katie and William last week, the state doesn’t really care about the multiple failures that contributed to their deaths. At a human level there is little doubt the sense of outrage and sadness is real. I dare say the feelings of shock and disbelief are equally profound, and there will undoubtedly be a reactionary response to the recommendations from the Fatal Accident Inquiry. But behind it all – the state, and institutions of the state don’t care. And it's not that they don’t care in this case, they largely don’t care in any of them.

Read more by Calum Steele

Scotland has seen around 1,000 FAIs and countless other serious case reviews in the past 25 years; I defy anyone to give me the names of 10 of the most high-profile ones. Now not every FAI results in criticism (or recommendations, to give them their softer and more paternal terminology) not least as sometimes people just happen to die. And no matter how headline-grabbing, or tragic, or........

© Herald Scotland


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