Katie Allan's mum says daughter's tragic death has cost family thousands amid fight for answers

dailyrecord.co.uk:

The mum of a young woman who died in custody says the family now faces having to pay thousands of pounds to have a voice during a probe into her death.Linda Allan and husband Stuart may have to withdraw from a Fatal Accident Inquiry into the death of their daughter Katie despite five years of tirelessly campaigning for answers.The 21-year-old university student tragically took her own life at Polmont Young Offenders Institution in June 2018 while serving a sentence for a driving offence.A full probe examining the circumstances of her death will be held in January next year following a preliminary hearing at Falkirk Sheriff Court yesterday.

But their request for funding from the Scottish Legal Aid Board has now been denied while an “army of lawyers is paid to represent prison officers, ministers, health trusts, police officers and the Prison Officers Association”.Linda, 56, told the Record that the family simply don’t have the money to pay for legal representation at the probe, which is due to take place in January next year.The 56-year-old said: “Katie’s death has cost us tens of thousands of pounds already with funeral costs, therapy costs, loss of earnings and all of that stuff.“We couldn’t apply for legal aid at first because we didn’t know the dates for the hearings.

As soon as we found those out, we applied but our application was refused.“After everything that’s happened over the last five years, we just don’t have the money even if we do technically earn over the threshold for legal aid.“It just seems quite unfair especially when we walked into court to see five lawyers sitting there to represent everyone else.“Even if we do get legal aid funding, I’m quite sure the sheriff won’t want to delay proceedings, which