Mark Bonini was sentenced to at least 13 years in prison

It follows the release of Mark Bonini, who was jailed for life in 2005 for the murder of two-year-old Andrew Morton.

Andrew's mother Sharon McMillan, from Glasgow, said she was not told Bonini was given permission to visit his dying grandfather and attend his burial.

Prison officials said they were not obliged to tell victims' families about escorted visits.

Bonini fatally wounded the toddler with an air rifle pellet in Glasgow's Craigend in March 2005.

He was shot while being carried by his 13-year-old brother as they watched fire engines near their home.

Bonini, who failed in an attempt to challenge his sentence earlier this year, was escorted by two Reliance officers on a home visit last month to see his grandfather.

Are home visits for inmates right or wrong?

The 28-year-old was also given permission to attend the burial on Thursday at a cemetery in the Dalbeth area of the city.

His home visit and subsequent compassionate leave was condemned by Ms McMillan, who claimed she was not notified by the authorities.

Local MSP Margaret Curran described the circumstances of the visit as "extremely distressing".

"I can entirely understand the argument from the family, that they had no knowledge of this," she said.

"It could have been extremely serious if they had bumped into this killer on their streets.

"I immediately raised the issue with the Scottish Prison Service and asked them to take into account the experience of the victim and their family when they make these decisions."

While the SPS would not comment on individual inmates' cases, a spokesman said a protocol existed which allowed prisoners to attend funerals and go on escorted home visits.

Andrew Morton was shot near his home in Craigend

"Prisoners are normally allowed compassionate leave if the prison governor receives medical advice that a close relative is dying," he said.

"They are also allowed to attend the funeral of close relatives, such as parents, grandparents, siblings, spouses and children.

"They are escorted to funerals and visits by two Reliance officers."

However, Pauline McNeill MSP, convenor of the Scottish Parliament's justice 1 committee, called for a policy change.

"There's nothing in the protocol that would have compelled the SPS to notify the family of a compassionate visit and that's where the gap lies," she said.

"I think that should change.

"Families should be told about these types of situations and the Morton family should have been told in this case."

'Ridiculous position'

John Scott, chair of the Howard League for Penal Reform in Scotland, said notifying victims and their families of home visits should be considered in individual cases.

However, he said other issues, such as the prisoner's safety, should also be taken into account.

He added that one of the most important aspects of prisoner rehabilitation was maintaining family connections.

He said: "Is it seriously being suggested that because he is a serving prisoner and has committed a serious offence, that he has no rights at all in relation to attending the funeral of a relative?

"I think that's a ridiculous position.