How many more lives will be lost?

Mum calls for hellhole hotel to be shut down after death of her son who was not an addict

- MARK MCGIVERN

INQUIRY DEMAND AFTER SURGE IN FATAL OVERDOSES

THE MOTHER of a man who died in a "hellhole" hotel is demanding an inquiry into an appalling explosion in overdose deaths.

Heartbroken Linda McVean spoke out after her son Frankie - who was not a drug addict - died of an accidental overdose at the notorious Queens Park Hotel in Glasgow on May 14.

The tragic 30-year-old was working as a scaffolder and using the hotel as a stop-gap while awaiting a council tenancy, which he had been granted shortly before his death.

Linda, 54, claims he fell prey to rife drug dealing at the premises - where three people died of suspected overdoses in the past month.

Linda said: "I am devastated at the death of my beautiful son and I will not allow Frankie to become just another drugs statistic.

"He was a popular, well loved young man, with so many friends and a loving family and a whole life in front of him.

"If he wasn't put into that horrific hellhole he would be alive today and I believe the place should be shut down. I have been told by several people who have lived there recently that drug dealing is openly taking place, despite the fact people are dying.

"If you didn't have a drug habit or an addiction when you checked into the Queens Park Hotel you will be incredibly likely to have one if you ever check out. Or you may well die of an overdose, as so many other people have done."

Fighting back tears, she added: "My son's death should be a line in the sand. I want to know what the hotel owners who are making millions of pounds are going to do to stop this from happening.

"And if they are going to do nothing, I want to know how Glasgow City Council can justify sending one more vulnerable person to stay in such a dangerous, terrifying place. There should be a full inquiry into what has been going on in this hotel and the other homeless hotels on the city.