INQUIRY UNDER THE FATAL ACCIDENTS AND INQUIRIES (SCOTLAND) ACT 1976 INTO THE SUDDEN DEATH OF ALAN IRVINE [2013] ScotSC 6 (30 January 2013)

INQUIRY UNDER THE FATAL ACCIDENTS AND INQUIRIES (SCOTLAND) ACT 1976 INTO THE SUDDEN DEATH OF ALAN IRVINE [2013] ScotSC 6 (30 January 2013)

Alan Irvine died from naphyrone, lignocaine, and cocaine intoxication. There were no reasonable precautions whereby the death might have been avoided, no defects in any system of working which contributed to the death, and no evidence that police officers failed to identify a syndrome that was not present. The actions of the police and custody staff were appropriate and in accordance with their training and procedures.

Citation
[2013] ScotSC 6
Parties
Deceased: Alan Irvine (deceased); Applicant: Procurator Fiscal; Interested Party: Mother of Alan Irvine; Interested Party: Chief Constable, Strathclyde Police; Interested Parties: Police Constables James Armstrong and Ainsley Robb
Jurisdiction
Scotland
Judgment Date
30 January 2013
Procedural Posture
Fatal Accident Inquiry / Determination After Evidentiary Hearing
Outcome
No recommendations or findings of fault; death due to drug intoxication; no reasonable precautions or defects identified.
Legal Topics
Fatal Accident Inquiry, Drug Related Death, Police Custody, Excited Delirium Syndrome, Police Procedures, Toxicology
Coronial Law Police Law Criminal Procedure Fatal Accident Inquiry Drug Related Death Police Custody Excited Delirium Syndrome Police Procedures +1 more

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Parties

Alan Irvine (deceased)

Deceased

Procurator Fiscal

Applicant

Mother of Alan Irvine

Interested Party

Chief Constable, Strathclyde Police

Interested Party

Police Constables James Armstrong and Ainsley Robb

Interested Parties

Procedural Posture

Fatal Accident Inquiry / Determination After Evidentiary Hearing

Legal Issues

  1. 1 What was the cause and circumstances of Alan Irvine's death?
  2. 2 Were there reasonable precautions whereby the death might have been avoided?
  3. 3 Were there defects in any system of working which contributed to the death?

Ratio Decidendi

Alan Irvine died from naphyrone, lignocaine, and cocaine intoxication. There were no reasonable precautions whereby the death might have been avoided, no defects in any system of working which contributed to the death, and no evidence that police officers failed to identify a syndrome that was not present. The actions of the police and custody staff were appropriate and in accordance with their training and procedures.

Court Disposition

No recommendations or findings of fault; death due to drug intoxication; no reasonable precautions or defects identified.