Allan's Family taking prisons to court

Human rights laws used to probe 'dishonest' death of inmate

- GEMMA RYDER

THE family of a man who died in custody after he was held down by prison officers are taking legal action against the Scottish Prison Service.

Allan Marshall, 30, who ran his own recycling business in Glasgow, died in hospital four days after being restrained by up to 17 prison officers at HMP Edinburgh in March, 2015.

The case provoked widespread fury after our sister paper the Sunday Mail revealed CCTV showing the father of two being dragged naked down a segregation unit corridor with a towel over his face, having suffered multiple injuries.

A Fatal Accident Inquiry found Allan's death had been "entirely preventable" and officers involved in his restraint were "mutually dishonest".

Now, Allan's family have raised a civil court action under human rights laws for a breach of his right to life.

Lawyers say they wanted to ensure those responsible were "held to account".

Allan's brother Alistair said: "The system has failed Allan.