HMP Inverness death of 48-year-old Gary Wallace set to be investigated in Fatal Accident Inquiry (FAI) with preliminary hearing set to take place in May

A court process is set to start as part of a Fatal Accident Inquiry (FAI) into the death of a man at Inverness prison, it has been announced.

The Crown Office and Procurator Fiscal Service (COPFS) has lodged a First Notice to begin the court process for a Fatal Accident Inquiry into the death of 48-year-old Gary Wallace.

Mr Wallace, who was found within his cell in the morning of Saturday, April 17 2021 at HMP Inverness, was in legal custody and in the care of the state at the time of his death.

A Preliminary Hearing will be held on 8 May 2025 at Inverness Sheriff Court.

Procurator Fiscal Andy Shanks, who leads on death investigations for COPFS, said: “The Lord Advocate considers that the death of Gary Wallace 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.”

The purpose of a Fatal Accident Inquiry (FAI) includes determining the cause of death, the circumstances in which the death occurred, and establishing what steps, if any, could have been taken to minimise the risk of future deaths in similar circumstances.

Unlike criminal proceedings, FAIs are inquisitorial in nature, and are used to establish facts rather than to apportion blame.

This Inquiry will explore the circumstances of Mr Wallace’s death, with particular focus on the Scottish Prison Service ‘Talk To Me’ suicide prevention process and staffing issues at the prison in February, March and April 2021.

The Inquiry will also consider any action taken by the prison to address the issue of ligature anchor points and their response to a ligature anchor point survey carried out at HMYOI Polmont in 2018.