Fatal accident inquiry to be held into prison death of killer

A fatal accident inquiry is to be held into the death in prison of a man jailed for killing his friend following an argument over beer.

Reece Sweeney, 24, was found dead in his cell at HMP Shotts on 20 June 2023. He had been jailed for life after stabbing Jamie McGready to death at a flat in Glasgow in August 2021.

The Crown Office and Procurator Fiscal Service (COPFS) has now lodged a first notice to begin the court process for an FAI into his death.

The FAI will seek to establish the cause of death, the circumstances in which it occurred and to establish what steps, if any, could minimise the risk of such deaths in the future.

The COPFS is obliged to investigate such deaths, meaning a fatal accident inquiry is mandatory.

A preliminary hearing will be held on 10 April at Hamilton Sheriff Court.

Lorraine Almond of the COPFS said: "The lord advocate considers that the death of Reece Sweeney occurred whilst he was in legal custody and as such a fatal accident inquiry is mandatory.

"The lodging of the first notice enables FAI proceedings to commence under the direction of the Sheriff."

Sweeney, who had been on bail at the time, denied killing "father figure" McGready but was found guilty following a six-day trial at the High Court in Edinburgh.

Witnesses recalled that a "silly argument", believed to be over beer, had broken out between the pair.

Sweeney was then said to lunge at McGready and stab him.

The victim was said to have said: "You have done me. You have killed me."

Sweeney was sentenced to life in prison, with a minimum term to be served of 16 years.