Kory McCrimmon's family meet John Swinney to discuss efforts tackling youth knife crime
The First Minister has met with the family of a teenager killed by a gang rival in Glasgow to discuss youth knife crime in Scotland.
John Swinney promised Kory McCrimmon's family a follow-up meeting to discuss ways to solve youth knife crime in Scotland.
The 16-year-old was stabbed in the heart at Greenfield Park in the city's east end in May last year following a feud with a member of a rival gang.
The High Court in Glasgow heard that the pair had fallen out over £50 which led to an argument and threads over social media.
The youth was convicted of culpable homicide and was sentenced to five years' detention in May. Kory's death was followed by two further knife tragedies just less than 12 months later.
Amen Teklay, 15, died after he was found seriously injured on a street in Glasgow's Maryhill on March 5.
Three teenage boys, aged 14, 15, and 16, were arrested and charged in connection. Just weeks later, 16-year-old Kayden Moy died following a disturbance at Irvine Beach in Ayrshire on May 17.
Two boys, aged 16 and 17, have since appeared in court charged with his murder.
All three tragedies have taken place amid the Record's Our Kids ... Our Future campaign, which has repeatedly called on the Scottish Government to invest in children to keep them safe from harm.
Our Kids ... Our Future was launched over two years ago in response to a youth violence epidemic.
On Wednesday, the First Minister and Justice Secretary Angela Constance met with the teenager's family to discuss youth knife crime.
The McCrimmon family called for the meeting to ask the First Minister what could be done to tackle the issue of knife crime, especially amongst young people, and what preventative measures could be put in place.
It was requested by the McCrimmon family after they organised a ' Parents Against Knives ' march in Glasgow last month.
Around 200 people turned up for the event, which left from outside Rangers' Ibrox Stadium and ended at Celtic's home ground, Celtic Park.
During the meeting, the First Minister promised the family, who were joined by Victim Support Scotland, a follow-up meeting to look into the potential solutions in more detail.
The family said in a statement: 'The main purpose of this meeting was to do everything possible so that Kory's death was not in vain.
'We really appreciated the chance to meet with the First Minister and Justice Secretary yesterday to talk about their plans to tackle youth knife crime.
'They really listened to our concerns and ideas, and the First Minister suggested having another meeting soon to look at possible solutions in more detail.
'We will hold the First Minister to this promise and to hearing in more detail about what the Scottish Government plans to do to stop more needless deaths caused by knife crime.
'Lasting positive change is our goal.'
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Kate Wallace, chief executive of Victim Support Scotland, added: 'We welcome the First Minister's commitment to a follow-up meeting with the McCrimmon family.
'This will be vital for solidifying the Scottish Government's commitment to addressing knife crime, especially amongst young people.
'The McCrimmon family took the opportunity yesterday to question the First Minister and Justice Secretary about this issue and what they are doing to stop more preventable deaths.
'We look forward to a swift response from the First Minister in regards to a follow-up meeting with the family.
'It is crucial that action focuses on a joined-up approach to preventing young people from being involved with this type of crime in the first place.
'Everyone has a right to feel safe in their communities. We will continue to advocate on the McCrimmon family's behalf, and on behalf of everyone impacted by knife crime in Scotland.'
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