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Daily Record
5 days ago
- Health
- Daily Record
Mum welcomes Body scanning machine pilot which may reduce need for invasive procedures in death probes
Campaigner Ann Stark has been calling for overhaul of the post-mortem system in Scotland after her son Richard had tissue samples removed against her will. A MUM whose son had a post-mortem examination without her consent has welcomed a pilot of body-scanning machines which may reduce the need for the invasive procedures. Ann Stark has been calling for overhaul of the post-mortem system in Scotland after her son Richard had tissue samples removed against her will. She and husband Gerry want CT scanners and keyhole surgery used as often as possible. Last month, Scottish prosecutors travelled to England to study post-mortem body scanning machines. The Crown Office last week approved a pilot on the use of CT scanning in instructed post-mortems. Ann, from Bothwell, Lanarkshire, said: 'We are pleased to see the pilot project has started in Scotland. "But there are concerns that pathologists will still perform invasive post-mortems when it may not be necessary, in order to collect samples. 'We will never forgive all involved in Richard's case. "Is it still worth butchering a loved one for the sake of a worthless death certificate?' Richard, 25, an accountant, suffered a seizure and died at home in 2019. Ann told police officers she didn't want a full invasive examination. Three weeks later she learned that a full autopsy had taken place with tissue samples taken. She petitioned the Scottish Parliament in a bid for the rules to be changed so post-mortems can only be carried out with permission of the next of kin. Holyrood's public petitions committee is considering the call for a review of legislation. Procurator Fiscal Andy Shanks said: 'We recognise it can be distressing to know that a post-mortem is required, and the Procurator Fiscal only ever instructs one where it is necessary to establish the cause of death.' Scottish Labour Health spokesperson Jackie Baillie said 'This is positive step forward that could help reduce trauma for bereaved families, but this is the start of a journey rather than the end. 'The SNP must watch this pilot closely and ensure its findings are acted on swiftly.'
The Independent
5 days ago
- Politics
- The Independent
Man who baited birds of prey with rat poison in landowner feud sentenced
A man who baited birds of prey with pheasants coated in rat poison has been ordered to carry out 135 hours of unpaid work. Clive Burgoyne, 38, of Forfar in Angus, left four pheasant carcasses gutted and filled with rat poison as part of an ongoing feud with a neighbouring landowner over shooting rights. He hoped his actions would cause reputational damage to the Guynd estate near Arbroath, Angus, according to prosecutors. At Forfar Sheriff Court on April 22, Burgoyne pleaded guilty to a breach of wildlife legislation between January and February 2023. The court heard he left four pheasant carcasses coated in rodenticide which would cause haemorrhaging, in a bid to harm birds of prey. On Thursday at the same court, he was given a community payback order and 135 hours of unpaid work to be completed within 12 months, the Crown Office and Procurator Fiscal Service (COPFS) said. Prosecutors said he put birds of prey 'at risk of injury or death' using a known rat poison which can kill a bird of prey in a single feed. Prosecutors told how witnesses saw Burgoyne in the front passenger seat of a car travelling towards, and later away, from the Guynd estate on the morning of February 3, 2023. A short time later, an estate worker discovered a dead pheasant on a footpath within the estate, COPFS said. The breast had been removed and the bird was covered in a quantity of grain and seed which was then coated in a bright blue liquid. A further search of the area revealed three more dead pheasants nearby which had been similarly cut open and treated, according to COPFS. Analysis carried out by officials at the Science and Advice for Scottish Agriculture confirmed the blue grain was a known rodenticide formulation. They believed the appearance of the pheasant carcasses suggested they had been prepared and set out with the intention of causing harm to birds. After being arrested, a sample of Burgoyne's DNA was found on all four of the dead birds. Iain Batho, who leads on wildlife and environmental crime at COPFS, said: 'It is highly important to preserve Scotland's natural heritage, including the wildlife that forms part of it. 'As such, wild birds are given strict protection by our law. 'Clive Burgoyne's reckless actions put various wildlife, particularly birds of prey, at risk of injury and death. 'COPFS takes offences under the Wildlife and Countryside Act seriously and will prosecute individuals where there is sufficient evidence of a crime and where it is in the public interest to do so. 'The result in this case is a testament to the collaborative working between COPFS, Police Scotland, and Science and Advice for Scottish Agriculture, who in this case were able to provide vital forensic evidence.'
Yahoo
5 days ago
- Health
- Yahoo
Corrupt Edinburgh NHS manager jailed for eight years over £6m contracts
Four men have been jailed for a total of 29 years over the awarding of NHS contracts worth £6million. Alan Hush, 68, Adam Sharoudi, 41, Gavin Brown, 48, and Gavin Cox, 60, were convicted by a jury following an investigation at health boards across Scotland. Hush, telecommunications manager at NHS Lothian and then NHS Scotland's video conferencing manager, was sentenced to eight years in jail. READ MORE: Edinburgh man's touching tribute for best pal after his unexpected death at 38 READ MORE: 'Maggots burst from tin of tuna I was about to feed my baby - I can never eat touch it again' Sharoudi and Brown, directors of Ayrshire-based telecommunications firm Oricom Ltd, were imprisoned for eight years and seven years respectively. Cox, who held the post of head of IT and infrastructure at NHS Lanarkshire, will spend six years in prison. Sineidin Corrins, Deputy Procurator Fiscal for Specialist Casework at the Crown Office and Procurator Fiscal Service (COPFS), said: 'This is an outstanding result for justice in Scotland. 'As prosecutors, we have shown an unwavering commitment to pursuing and investigating this matter. This was a betrayal of public trust. 'These four men colluded to create a sophisticated criminal scheme. The public will rightly be shocked by the scale of their criminality. The scale of this offending against our public health service is particularly egregious. 'The systematic abuse of position by public officials, who accepted inappropriate benefits including cash, holidays and entertainment in exchange for contract advantages, strikes at the heart of public trust. 'It serves as a reminder that procurement processes exist to ensure fair competition and value for public money. When these processes are corrupted, all of society bears the cost. 'The prosecutorial journey has been complex and demanding. It required forensic examination of thousands of documents, hundreds of witness statements, and detailed financial analyses to establish the full extent of this criminal activity. Sign up for Edinburgh Live newsletters for more headlines straight to your inbox 'The digital evidence, particularly text messages and emails exchanged between the accused, proved pivotal in exposing the true nature of these arrangements. 'This was a meticulous investigation and one which reflects the enduring partnership working between specialist Crown Office prosecutors, NHS Counter Fraud Services and Police Scotland who worked tirelessly over many years. 'Their unflinching dedication to serving the interests of justice, regardless of complexity or duration, deserves recognition. 'The Crown Office and Procurator Fiscal Service has worked closely with these specialist reporting agencies to ensure justice has been served. 'This case demonstrates clearly that those who indulge in corrupt practices for their own personal gain will be brought to book regardless of the time it takes to bring offenders to justice. Join Edinburgh Live's Whatsapp Community here and get the latest news sent straight to your messages. 'The Proceeds of Crime proceedings that will follow demonstrate our ongoing commitment to ensuring that crime does not pay and that illicitly obtained funds are recovered where possible.' All four individuals will now be subject to confiscation action under Proceeds of Crime legislation to recover monies illegally obtained. Brown and Sharoudi were also banned from being company directors for 10 years.
Glasgow Times
5 days ago
- Politics
- Glasgow Times
Gangland violence 'out of control' John Swinney is told
The First Minister was challenged about justice policy following the killing of two Scottish drug gang leaders in Spain. Eddie Lyons jnr and Ross Mnaghan were shot dead at a bar in Fuengirola last Saturday night. READ NEXT: Glasgow's drug consumption centre is working says health secretary At First Minister's Questions, Conservative leader, Russell Findlay, said gangs have been allowed to operate as 'the Scottish Parliament has failed to tackle organised Crime' He branded the gang leaders parasites and cowards and highlighted policing and sentencing policy that he claimed led to a failure to tackle the problem. Findlay said: 'Two Scottish drug dealers have now been shot dead in Spain.' Referring to the ongoing, decades long, feud between the rival Daniel and Lyons gangs in Glasgow, he said: 'Their gang has waged a turf war on Scotland's streets since the dawn of devolution. 'And this has mutated to include proxy groups, including the US US-sanctioned Kinahan cartel. 'These parasites grow rich by preying on societies most vulnerable, these cowards cause terror and death with guns, knives and firebombs. 'These thugs go after journalists, politicians, businessmen, police and prison officers. 'Organised Crime is out of control and communities are living in fear.' READ NEXT: 'Don't blame us': Taxis hit back in Glasgow city centre transport row Findlay said police numbers have been cut by almost 1000, Under 25 sentencing guidelines are part of the problem and proceeds of crime law failed to recover the rtrue wealth drug dealers accumulate. He said police say 'Organised crime groups' are 'coercing young and vulnerable people to carry out some of these crimes because they are under reduced risk of imprisonment.' On Proceeds of crime, he added: 'According to the Crown Office, one drug dealer made £126m but they can only find £118,000 of assets' and called for a review. The First Minister said the government and justice authorities were tackling organised crime, which he said was 'intolerable' and 'unacceptable'. He said he did not agree it was 'out of control' and said , 'Tt requires the forensic attention of our police and criminal justice authorities to tackle it and that is being undertaken within Scotland on a relentless basis.' Swinney said there were 'flaws' with Findlay's arguments. He said: 'There are a high number of organised crime participants who are currently incarcerated for a very long time in the jails of Scotland, contributing to the significant congestion that is in our prison system just now.' On sentencing, he said he could not allow the remarks to stand. He said:' It is misleading to say to the public there are no consequences for criminal activity under the age of 25. 'There are very serious consequences which involve imprisonment.' He added: 'Scottish Crime Campus is viewed across the world as one of the most innovative and successful measures of bringing together all of the intelligence gathering in one place. And he said: 'It has to be acknowledged that the criminal justice authorities have been successful in apprehending, imprisoning, interrupting and disrupting organised crime in this country. 'That will be sustained in the years to come.'
Edinburgh Live
5 days ago
- Edinburgh Live
Corrupt Edinburgh NHS manager jailed for eight years over £6m contracts
Our community members are treated to special offers, promotions and adverts from us and our partners. You can check out at any time. More info Get the latest Edinburgh Live breaking news on WhatsApp Four men have been jailed for a total of 29 years over the awarding of NHS contracts worth £6million. Alan Hush, 68, Adam Sharoudi, 41, Gavin Brown, 48, and Gavin Cox, 60, were convicted by a jury following an investigation at health boards across Scotland. Hush, telecommunications manager at NHS Lothian and then NHS Scotland's video conferencing manager, was sentenced to eight years in jail. Sharoudi and Brown, directors of Ayrshire-based telecommunications firm Oricom Ltd, were imprisoned for eight years and seven years respectively. Cox, who held the post of head of IT and infrastructure at NHS Lanarkshire, will spend six years in prison. Sineidin Corrins, Deputy Procurator Fiscal for Specialist Casework at the Crown Office and Procurator Fiscal Service (COPFS), said: 'This is an outstanding result for justice in Scotland. 'As prosecutors, we have shown an unwavering commitment to pursuing and investigating this matter. This was a betrayal of public trust. 'These four men colluded to create a sophisticated criminal scheme. The public will rightly be shocked by the scale of their criminality. The scale of this offending against our public health service is particularly egregious. 'The systematic abuse of position by public officials, who accepted inappropriate benefits including cash, holidays and entertainment in exchange for contract advantages, strikes at the heart of public trust. 'It serves as a reminder that procurement processes exist to ensure fair competition and value for public money. When these processes are corrupted, all of society bears the cost. 'The prosecutorial journey has been complex and demanding. It required forensic examination of thousands of documents, hundreds of witness statements, and detailed financial analyses to establish the full extent of this criminal activity. Sign up for Edinburgh Live newsletters for more headlines straight to your inbox 'The digital evidence, particularly text messages and emails exchanged between the accused, proved pivotal in exposing the true nature of these arrangements. 'This was a meticulous investigation and one which reflects the enduring partnership working between specialist Crown Office prosecutors, NHS Counter Fraud Services and Police Scotland who worked tirelessly over many years. 'Their unflinching dedication to serving the interests of justice, regardless of complexity or duration, deserves recognition. 'The Crown Office and Procurator Fiscal Service has worked closely with these specialist reporting agencies to ensure justice has been served. 'This case demonstrates clearly that those who indulge in corrupt practices for their own personal gain will be brought to book regardless of the time it takes to bring offenders to justice. Join Edinburgh Live's Whatsapp Community here and get the latest news sent straight to your messages. 'The Proceeds of Crime proceedings that will follow demonstrate our ongoing commitment to ensuring that crime does not pay and that illicitly obtained funds are recovered where possible.' All four individuals will now be subject to confiscation action under Proceeds of Crime legislation to recover monies illegally obtained. Brown and Sharoudi were also banned from being company directors for 10 years.
